Group Urges Council Members To Make Winston Salem "Sanctuary City"

A local group is urging city leaders to make Winston-Salem a “sanctuary city” for immigrants who are in the country illegally. The Winston-Salem Sanctuary Coalition made the request during a city council meeting this week.

The group made its case Tuesday, saying they fear deportations will increase when President-elect Donald Trump takes office. A North Carolina Law passed in 2015 prohibits cities from becoming sanctuaries. The designation generally refers to cities that don't enforce federal immigration laws.

Supporters of the law say that sanctuary cities risk public safety because they may serve as a haven for criminals, who know they are less likely to be deported in these areas. According to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency, thousands of undocumented convicted criminals are released from custody every year.

This leaves city leaders in a bind. Do they risk losing state funding if they violate the law? And does it open Winston-Salem to unwanted political attention that other cities have faced?

But Valeria Rodriguez Cobos says this is a good thing. She was born in Mexico and lived in the country illegally until a couple of years ago, when she attained legal status under the Violence Against Women Act.

“We believe that sanctuary city ordinances, or an ordinance similar to it would make our city safer. It wouldn't make it any less safe,” says Cobos. “It would encourage people who have witnessed crimes or are the victims of crimes to really cooperate with the police without the fear of being detained for your immigration status or deported immediately.”

City leaders say they plan to put the issue on the agenda of a future general government committee meeting. Cobos says her group is also planning a public meeting on Feb. 9 at Green Street Church in Winston-Salem.

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