RALEIGH — The Monroe City Council approved a position statement affirming the municipality is not a sanctuary city during its meeting on May 13.
The document, titled “Position Statement on Monroe’s Commitment to Public Safety and Immigration Enforcement,” says Monroe “is committed to ensuring a safe environment for all residents” and that removal of violent offenders is “crucial” to public safety.
“Monroe is not a Sanctuary City. We fully comply with NC General Statues which requires cooperation with federal immigration enforcement,” the position statement reads. “The Monroe Police Department does not enforce federal immigration law, however, in addressing the challenges posed by violent crime, we are committed to cooperating with federal law enforcement agencies to locate and apprehend violent offenders regardless of their immigration status.”
“As Mayor of Monroe, it’s my job to ensure all of our citizens are safe, immigrants, legal residents, and natural born citizens. People from all over the world have been pouring over our borders, not just those from Latin America,” said Monroe Mayor Robert Burns in a press release. “Monroe will not be a rogue city sheltering illegal violent criminals and terrorists.”
The position statement was approved 4-3, with Burns, Gary Anderson and David Dotson voting yes. Member Julie Thompson refused to cast a vote, which under the city’s meeting rules was counted as a yes. Members James Kerr, Franco McGee and Surluta Anthony voted no.
“Immigrants fleeing to America to escape cartels are finding themselves in the same situation in America because the Biden administration incentivized illegal immigration,” said Burns. “America should be a safe harbor from foreign criminals, not a sanctuary city. Those who voted against requiring law enforcement to cooperate with ICE are on the side of violent criminals, not the people of Monroe.”
The press release issued by Burns also included a brief list of recent violent crimes committed by undocumented immigrants in North Carolina that included the kidnapping and rape of a 14-year-old in Lee County in April and a 2022 North Carolinians for Immigration Reform and Enforcement report of 18 people who had been arrested on “96 rape or sexual assault charges in 30 North Carolina counties.”
Dotson, the mayor pro tem, said there was a need for a clear position statement prior to the vote.
“Both Congress and President (Donald) Trump have made it clear that they intend to use both congressional action and executive orders to restrict sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving potential federal funding,” said Dotson. “Monroe proactively declaring itself a nonsanctuary city is a prudent decision.
“By explicitly stating the City of Monroe’s commitment to assisting federal agencies in removing violent offenders from all communities, including the immigrant community, we can enhance public safety and foster a sense of security amongst all neighborhoods.”
Dotson also noted that Monroe Police do not enforce federal immigration law and that the statement had been run by the Monroe Police chief.
During discussion of the statement, Anthony called it “unwarranted.”
Dotson countered by saying the public wants to know what the council’s stance is on the topic and that the position statement is an “opportunity to be proactive” in that regard. He later underscored that the city was already complying with state and federal laws, and this statement was a clarification and “nothing new.”
The clarification by the City of Monroe follows an April 28 presidential executive order specifically targeting sanctuary jurisdictions.
The order directs U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem to compile and publish a list of states and local jurisdictions obstructing federal immigration law enforcement.
Bondi and Noem are also directed to notify each sanctuary jurisdiction of its noncompliance, providing an opportunity to correct it. If corrective action isn’t taken after notification, jurisdictions may lose federal funding.
The same day, Trump issued another order that included a directive for “holding state and local officials accountable.”
That provision directed Bondi to seek prosecution of anyone who “willfully and unlawfully directs the obstruction of criminal law, including by directly and unlawfully prohibiting law enforcement officers from carrying out duties necessary for public safety and law enforcement.”
The Trump administration is also engaging state and local law enforcement agencies through the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICDE) 287(g) program.
Under that program, law enforcement agencies and departments enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) that outlines what the agencies agree to do, which can include identifying, processing, and detaining individuals who qualify as removable illegal aliens.
The City of Monroe Council meeting can be viewed below.
