WESTCHESTER COUNTY, NY — April 27, 2017 — Ken Jenkins, Westchester County Legislator and candidate for Westchester County Executive was appalled at the news that ICE has inquired about using Westchester County jail beds for holding undocumented immigrants.
The signal of increased ICE raids has residents rightly afraid in Westchester and the surrounding counties.
“Westchester must stand strong,” said Jenkins. “Several years ago, the Federal government eliminated use of County facilities to hold federal inmates because they could accommodate in their own facilities. We must not allow our County resources to be used to intimidate. This is yet another reason why Westchester must work to provide a safe and inclusive community for all who live here. We cannot let the Trump administration make our residents afraid to leave their homes, or live their lives.”
ICE is the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. The agency is making headlines as raids and deportations have increased in frequency throughout the country. These increases coincide with President Trump’s anti-immigrant rhetoric. The raids indiscriminately break up families and deport otherwise law-abiding residents. Many undocumented immigrants who have lived here their whole lives are afraid to leave their homes as the threat of a raid looms over their heads. These raids have driven great fear into communities of Latinos, and other groups usually targeted for ICE raids.
“So far, the Trump Administration’s discriminatory policies have not taken root at home,” said Jenkins. “We on the Board of Legislators have worked to make sure we stop these policies from affecting our people. Here in Westchester we are willing, ready, and able to stand up and reject policies that do not coincide with our values. We need to do more to make sure that our residents are protected from bigoted leaders who do not have their best interests at heart.”
Ken Jenkins has been a strong advocate for bringing Westchester to “Sanctuary County” status. On the Board of Legislators, Jenkins has sponsored the Immigration Protection Act, outlining ways the County government can protect undocumented residents. The bill prohibits County resources from being used for any federally-mandated law that goes against the best interests of the people of Westchester County.
“Now more than ever we need to unite and pass this legislation,” said Jenkins.
“Chairman Kaplowitz needs to make it his immediate priority to send this bill to the floor for a vote. We need to start fighting back.”
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