This week the Colorado People’s Alliance (COPA) members, Aurora residents, and allies stood in support of Aurora’s immigrant and refugee community and testified against Aurora City Council’s resolution to affirm that Aurora is not a sanctuary city.
This resolution is part of a sustained effort by a minority in the Council to push for a resolution that will not change any existing city policy but which to many residents appears to pander to the Trump administration’s anti-sanctuary efforts.
“It is clear to me that the Aurora City Council cares more about pleasing the Trump administration and the unconstitutional threats of the Trump administration against sanctuary cities than about standing up for my family, their constituents, and all the other immigrants and refugees who live here,” said Gerardo Noriega, a COPA member and Aurora resident. “We want our city leaders to do more to keep us safe, and make us feel welcomed in this city I’ve lived in for 16 years! If they won’t listen to their people now they will answer to our votes later!” he said.
“As a graduate from Aurora Public Schools and longtime volunteer for the district, I can share with confidence that our schools lack funding, safety, and commitment from elected officials.”
The resolution was first discussed at a special session on March 27th where the council met to discuss sanctuary policy in Aurora while excluding members of the community and immigration law experts from the conversation. The resolution was then introduced in committee and while the committee did not vote it out of committee, council policy allowed for the author to move to have the full council discuss and vote on the resolution.
“As a life-long Aurora resident, I am disappointed to see our City Council working so hard to pass a resolution that undermines the protection of so many families, including my own,” said Adrian, COPA member and Aurora resident.
“My friends and family continue to face discrimination because of our ethnicity and perceived status. As a graduate from Aurora Public Schools and longtime volunteer for the district, I can share with confidence that our schools lack funding, safety, and commitment from elected officials. I say this because instead of focusing on education and protection for all students, our Council members are choosing to bring forward bigotry and anti-immigrant sentiments to a city that thrives because of our vibrant immigrant community.”
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