(Here is an update on last month's Sanctuary City Story. It was originally published on http://www.hamiltonjustice.ca/ where you can find more information on the Sanctuary City movement.)
The
City of Hamilton has become the second Canadian municipality
to declare itself a Sanctuary
City. Hamiltonians
cheered Wednesday night as City Council voted unanimously to ensure that municipal
and municipally-funded services are accessible to Hamiltonians without full
immigration status documents.
"This
is the beginning of treating people equally, no matter what their immigration
status is. Today is a first step on a long journey. It’s a commitment not just
by City Hall but by service providers and Hamiltonians at large to work
together to ensure justice for our undocumented neighbours,” noted Maria Antelo, Community Development Coordinator with
the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic.
The move to make Hamilton
a Sanctuary City has been spearheaded by the Hamilton
Sanctuary City Coalition (HSCC) of which Antelo is a member. HSCC was formed in
June 2013 with support from Toronto’s
Solidarity City Network. (Toronto became Canada’s
first Sanctuary City last February.)
Some History
In June 2013, in response to requests by members of
the community, Hamilton City Council directed staff to engage with local
agencies. The goal was to investigate
how undocumented individuals are treated in Hamilton.
A report was forwarded to the Emergency and Community Services
Committee.
The City of Hamilton
subsequently partnered with the HSCC to document the experiences of those
living with precarious status in Hamilton.
The HSCC research and consultation found that:
·
access to health care and police services remain
the primary concern of those with precarious status.
·
fear of detection, detention and deportation is a
major obstacle preventing many from obtaining services to which they would
otherwise have access.
·
precarious status disproportionately affects women.
Women are vulnerable because they often come to Canada using temporary visas and
family sponsorships.
·
women with precarious status are often vulnerable
to domestic violence and exploitation.
·
children are the most severely impacted by
precarious status. This status restricts
their access to the nutritious food, recreational programs, and daycare
activities that are necessary for a healthy development.
Looking Ahead
Council’s decision means that the City of Hamilton
will revise its antiracism training. Soon all staff will be aware of and support
the City’s commitment to serve Hamiltonians living with precarious or
undocumented immigration status. Hamiltonians
will become aware of their rights under the new policies.
Caitlin Craven from the Hamilton Sanctuary City Coalition expressed her delight with the outcome:
“Today Hamilton has begun the process of becoming a Sanctuary City. Access without Fear means that all residents of the City would be able to access city services without fear of deportation or detention.”
In the future people accessing city services will
not require any immigration status documentation. If that documentation is
necessary for providing the service it would not be disclosed to federal
immigration agencies.
The
Coalition must be commended for its advocacy work. Hamilton
now joins a growing movement of municipalities rallying to put the interests of
their community ahead of those of federal immigration policymakers and
enforcers.
The Hamilton Sanctuary City Coalition is a made up
of individuals and community organizations. Agencies supporting the initiative
include the Hamilton Community Legal
Clinic (HCLC), Sexual Assault Centre Hamilton and Area (SACHA), Hamilton Centre
for Civic Inclusion (HCCI), Immigrant Women’s Centre (IWC), Hamilton Safe
Communities Coalition (HSCC), Good Shepherd, Micah House, Neighbour 2 Neighbour
Centre (N2N), The Well, LGBTQ Wellness Centre of Hamilton, the Ecumenical
Support Committee for Refugees, Community Information Hamilton, the Canadian
African Multicultural Association, Refuge Hamilton Centre for Newcomer Health,
the Neighbor to Neighbor Centre, and Anti Racists and Allies of Hamilton.
