Aguadilla declares itself a sanctuary city

Aguadilla Mayor Julio Roldán Concepción (Facebook via Julio Roldan)

By THE STAR STAFF

Aguadilla has declared itself a sanctuary city, refusing to cooperate with the U.S. government in enforcing immigration laws.

On Thursday, the northwestern municipality made it clear that the decision is rooted in a commitment to upholding human dignity and protecting the rights of immigrant communities.

Mayor Julio Roldán Concepción, along with the municipal assembly, has enacted ordinances that strictly prohibit municipal employees from participating in any raids or investigations based solely on a person’s immigration status. Additionally, the ordinances outline a clear protocol for addressing information requests from federal agencies.

“The Aguadilla Municipal Legislature has approved Ordinance No. 82, Series 2024-2025, officially declaring our municipality a Sanctuary City,” the municipality stated. “This action reaffirms our unwavering commitment to human rights and the protection of all individuals, regardless of their immigration status.”

The new policy, championed by Roldán Concepción and introduced by Municipal Assemblyman Rafael Valle Ortiz, limits cooperation with federal immigration agencies such as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, unless the agencies are backed by a valid court order or when there is a demonstrable threat to public safety.

“We are standing firmly on the right side of history,” Roldán Concepción stressed. “This ordinance is an act of humanity, solidarity, and respect for the dignity that every human being inherently deserves.”

The mayor also announced the approval of Ordinance No. 83, which establishes the Interdisciplinary Response Task Force, which stands ready to act when raids or interventions involving immigrants are detected.

“This initiative is designed to provide a robust, supportive, and effective response to ICE interventions within our community,” Roldán Concepción said.

In drafting the ordinances, the municipality utilized two models developed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Puerto Rico as a foundation, aimed explicitly at safeguarding the civil and human rights of immigrants residing in the archipelago.

“Throughout this year, Puerto Rico has witnessed illegal detentions of immigrants coupled with cruel and inhumane treatment,” said Lolimar Escudero Rodríguez, the policy and legislation attorney at the ACLU of Puerto Rico. “By implementing these ordinances, which we are making available to all 78 municipalities in Puerto Rico, we are taking a strong stance against that reality.”

“We call upon the spirit of solidarity that defines the Puerto Rican people, who refuse to be complicit in the violation of anyone’s human dignity,” Escudero Rodríguez added. “As a nonpartisan organization, we demand that mayors and municipal legislatures enact ordinances similar to those adopted by Aguadilla. The current historic moment necessitates urgent action and decisive political will that transcends partisan lines.”

According to official ICE data, from January to the end of June, federal agents arrested at least 716 immigrants in Puerto Rico, the vast majority of whom had no criminal records. An unknown number of the detainees have been taken to Aguadilla, where ICE operates a temporary detention center. Furthermore, ICE previously managed a processing center in Aguadilla, which was shut down over a decade ago due to severe human and civil rights violations.

Roldán Concepción stated that after making his initial statements regarding actions against immigrants, he swiftly received communication from the ACLU of Puerto Rico, whose recommendations were incorporated into the drafting of the ordinances.

Ordinance No. 82, endorsed by the mayor, guarantees the confidentiality of residents’ personal information and explicitly prohibits the use of municipal resources to support arbitrary immigration operations, such as those reported in Puerto Rico since late January of this year.

Key provisions of the ordinance include:

* A total prohibition on municipal employees collaborating with raids or investigations based solely on a person’s immigration status.

* The establishment of a protocol for managing information requests from federal agencies.

* A commitment to ensuring equal access to essential services such as health, education and security.

* Continuous training for municipal staff on immigrant rights and the implementation of the new policy.

With the measure, the Aguadilla municipal administration reaffirms its vision of building a community grounded in equity, inclusion, and mutual respect, thereby standing shoulder to shoulder with numerous jurisdictions across the United States that have adopted similar progressive policies.