AsAmNews National Correspondent
An Indian American councilmember in New Jersey is expressing frustration her efforts to make Edison a “fair and welcoming city” have been stalled.
The resolution by Sapana Shah recommends that police in Edison not cooperate with enforcement of federal immigration laws or assist with deportation efforts.
“I think that sometimes people want to do a lot of window dressing. They embrace diversity. At the end of the day, I’m asking that you do more than just give me talk,” Shah told AsAmNews. “There’s a lot of people that are concerned. People are scared.”
Shah says she first brought up her idea Monday. She formally submitted her resolution to the entire council Wednesday at 1 p.m. for the 7 p.m. meeting, but says President Michael Lombardi declined to put it on the agenda.
Lombardi did not immediately return a call from AsAmNews for comment.
Shah acknowledges that Lombardi, as council president, has the prerogative to set the agenda. However, she says there may be more at play.
“There’s a growing trend,” said Shah who is serving her third year on the council. “Even though there’s an Asian American council member, the minute the minority gets a little noisy to speak up, they get replaced. They are going to attempt to take me out.”
Eleven other communities in New Jersey have passed similar resolutions, largely in response to stepped up efforts by the feds to deport undocumented immigrants and calls by President Trump for a Muslim ban.
Shah’s resolution falls short of declaring Edison a sanctuary city. President Trump has threatened to cut off federal funding to all sanctuary cities.
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