PRESS RELEASE
September 5, 2017
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sarah Henry, Public Information Officer
(510) 747-4714
City of Alameda Refuses to Certify Compliance with Federal Statute Regarding Immigration Status
Earlier this year, Alameda’s City Council adopted a resolution affirming the City of Alameda’s commitment as a Sanctuary City to the values of dignity, inclusivity, and respect for all individuals, regardless of ethnic or national origin, gender, race, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, or immigration status. This resolution reaffirmed the stand the City has taken for many years against biased, racist, and unconstitutional acts against undocumented immigrants.
In order for the City of Alameda to apply for the Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) from the U.S. Department of Justice (USDOJ), a new procedure was established that requires the City Manager to certify that the City does not restrict sending or receiving information regarding citizenship or immigration status.
Because this new requirement does not meet the intent of the Alameda City Council’s Sanctuary City Resolution, neither the City Manager nor the City Attorney, with concurrence from the Police Chief, agreed to sign the document. The City provides public safety for all, regardless of immigration status. Without a signed Certification of Compliance, the Alameda Police Department will not be able to accept an award from the USDOJ.
The City of Alameda was the first City in Alameda County that did not agree to sign the Certification of Compliance from the USDOJ. If pending lawsuits from the State of California and City of San Francisco prove successful, the City of Alameda may be able to receive these grant funds in the future.
The City of Alameda’s annual budget for services such as police, fire, parks, roads, and sidewalks is $249 million. Each year, millions of our budget dollars come from grant funding. For the last ten years, one source of the City’s grant funding has been the JAG grant, with awards ranging from $32,139 in 2007 to $12,352 in 2016. This year, Alameda’s JAG funding was estimated to be $11,537.
