At its January 27 regular meeting the Greenbelt City Council discussed several aspects of the impact of the Trump administration’s increased deportation efforts, recognized Black History Month and International Holocaust Remembrance Day and heard an update on the status of the city’s animal control services.
Immigration
Former councilmember Judith Davis raised the immigration issue during Petitions and Requests, noting that on January 23, Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Benjamine Huffman issued a directive giving U.S. Department of Justice law enforcement agencies, including the Marshals Service, the “authority to investigate and apprehend illegal aliens.”
Davis pointed out that the Greenbelt Police Department has a partnership agreement with the U.S. Marshals Service and expressed concern that this agreement will cause the city police force to be “called up to do these raids in Greenbelt,” she said, in violation of city policy. Davis asked that this concern be added to the list of issues being discussed by the city government.
Kevin Lockhart (“Coach Kevin”) of Franklin Park said that he can obtain Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) red “know your rights” cards for those who want them. These cards can also be printed from the ILRC’s website at www.ilrc.org. Greenbelt has a link to the ILRC’s red card page on its website, on the Government tab in the Public Information and Communications column.
Cynthia Newcomer called for council to strengthen the city’s noncooperation policy in
immigration enforcement by enacting municipal legislation, in addition to the existing police general orders.
Robert Goldberg-Strassler asked that council support state legislation seeking to protect those who are in peril these days. The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act would restrict the reach of immigration raids in places such as schools, places of worship and hospitals.
City Manager Josué Salmerón reported that city staff are working on a series of actions to inform the public of their rights and what level of protection they have in schools and places of worship, including the Know Your Rights page mentioned above. The city sent this information out through its digital channels and sent an email to 14,000 subscribers. Salmerón said they are also working with CASA of Maryland to organize Know Your Rights information sessions. However, he said, they want to be discreet, and the events will not be advertised as a town hall.
Recognitions
Mayor Emmett Jordan issued a proclamation to members of the Black American History Committee proclaiming February to be Black History Month in Greenbelt. He also recognized Goldberg-Strassler, who noted that January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorating the day that the Auschwitz death camp was liberated by the Soviet army in 1945. His grandparents, he said, were exterminated there 80 years ago. He offered a Hebrew prayer in commemoration.
Admin Reports
Salmerón reported that Animal Control will be back in full operation on February 3. The city has also secured a $9,000 grant to help residents obtain spay/neuter services. Salmerón noted that $9,000 will not cover all such needs, and funding will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
He also gave an update on the efforts to restore heat to two apartment complexes in Greenbelt Center. This issue was covered in detail in the January 30 News Review.