Mayor Elorza on Trump’s Deportation Agenda

By: New Staff

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — After last week’s election, Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is standing firm on his immigration stance resisting President-elect Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of immigrants.

Mayor Elorza says he has been in touch with the mayors of Los Angeles and New York City and told them Providence stands with them and does not agree with Trump’s agenda.

The mayor released a statement to ABC6 News saying, “It is important that every resident can live their lives without fear of being persecuted. We will continue enforcing our current policy to ensure that law-abiding residents can do just that regardless of inconsequential civil infractions.”

This may mean jeopardizing federal funding down the road. The president-elect has said that he may revoke funding for sanctuary cities. "I think the mayor’s time and efforts would be better served trying to ensure that his city doesn’t go bankrupt, rather than reacting to something that’s not even a policy yet," explained State Rep. Mike Chippendale (R – Foster, Coventry, Glocester). "It’s just very dangerous."

Chippendale feels Elorza’s comments are premature, saying now is the time to come together, instead of worrying about hypothetical situations that may not come to light. "Political speech of that nature is more detrimental to the overall healing that has to occur in this nation," he said.

Elorza is hosting a community meeting Wednesday at the Evangelical Vision Church on 1014 Broad Street to give people the chance to share their concerns and fears.

©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2016