From The Trussville Tribune staff reports
BIRMINGHAM –The Birmingham city council voted Tuesday to pass a resolution declaring Birmingham a sanctuary city. The move came just hours after Mayor William Bell said in a news conference that Birmingham police would not enforce federal immigration laws, but that Birmingham could not be a sanctuary city because it would violate state law.
By most definitions, a sanctuary city is a city that refuses to enforce federal immigration laws or work with immigration officials in detaining illegal immigrants.
The city of Birmingham
photo by Scott Buttram
On Wednesday, President Donald Trump signed an executive order promising to withhold federal money from what it referred to as sanctuary jurisdictions. The state law that Bell referred to is the Beason-Hammon Alabama Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act which says municipalities cannot pass laws that conflict with federal law. Any sanctuary city in Alabama could face civil penalties and daily fines.
The Birmingham city attorney urged the council to go into executive session to discuss the resolution and expressed concerns with the ramifications of its passage. Councilman Steven Hoyt accused the the city attorney of inflammatory talk.
The council, however, has their own attorney, Freddy Rubio, who said it was his opinion that the measure was legal.
Trump’s order withholding any funding deemed legal from sanctuary jurisdictions did not seem to deter the Birmingham council.
“I’m not worried about anyone sending something, if anything they’re going to send more,” according to Rick Journey.
Councilwoman Valerie Abbott expressed concerned over state civil penalties and fines that could be directed at the city.
73 Comments
Scott Crooks
Talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face!!!!!
Doug Davidson
There goes the federal money.
Greg Beshears
What a bunch of idiots.
Jill Faucett Clark
Surrounding communities: we should not think this will not affect us. Legal or not, they have just publicly announced that they have the welcome mat out and criminal elements will not just settle in the city limits.
Marla Ford Gibson
This is coming from the same city that almost filed bankruptcy a few years ago. I’m glad they have money to spare now. Poor leadership!!!
Rita Thomas
Alabama Gov. Robert Bentley says the state will not support sanctuary cities.
“President Trump has already taken decisive and necessary action to enforce our nation’s immigration laws,” Bentley said. “Alabama will not support sanctuary cities or institutions that harbor or shelter illegal immigrants, and are in clear violation of the laws of the nation.”
Gail Smith Wright
They can’t take care of the people they have now … murders every day, houses set on fire every day, drugs everywhere, schools failing, abandoned businesses, parts of town that no business will even consider, teenagers having babies left and right in order to collect more public assistance. Yeah, sounds like a pretty good idea.
Gail Smith Wright
Jill, you are absolutely correct. Already wondering where I can move to get away from this stuff.
Kate Sheffield Hankins
So glad my address has changed from Birmingham!
Kate Sheffield Hankins
Thank you Governor Bentley!
Linda Taylor
Just call them spoons – always stirring up something!!!
Mike-Holly Downing
That’s a special kind of STUPID
Terrie Dollar
Soooooo stupid. Who voted for them. Can we protest and cry and act stupid.
Sheryl Cooper
Unbelievable – hopefully these refugees will be William Bells and council’s neighbors.
Paul Tucker
Time to drain the little swamp… 🙂
Peggy Dorriety Jones
So, can Trussville & the out lying cities make a proclamation that they are NOT a Sanctuary City?
Mike Evans
Man I’m glad I don’t live there
Mark Dale
But, but steady Freddy the local attorney sez it it is OK. They could have stir on the decision and used the money to he’ll Art Clarkson bring back the Bulls and help the BJCC fill dates to the idle arena and help city center. Maybe he will do that now since the Birmingham will need a new tax revenue. Steady Freddy. A name that will live in Birmingham infamy.
Bobby Milstead
Not surprised at all, bunch of morons
Ronnie Murray
I’m ready to move. This is going to have a very negative effect on this area.
Jane Scoggins
Embarrassment! A total embarrassment. About the time the city begins to move in a positive direction, Civil Rights Museum, Railroad Park, Barrons new field etc. they do this. Can’t control crime now. Embarrassed!
Alicia Eads
And it’s shot down by the governor.
http://abc3340.com/news/local/gov-bentley-responds-to-birminghams-sanctuary-city-resolution
Tracy Layfield
I’m glad I’m not in the Birmingham city limits. The only involvement in Birmingham is my son going to UAB for college, but he can transfer to Tuscaloosa.
Rob Langford
Maybe instead of passing sanctuary city resolutions they could pass pro business or anti crime or better schools resolutions. Birmingham continues to be in the business of division and not working to improve. They are nothing but idiots.
Dave Hallmark
SAD!!!
Delane HoneyCutt Parker
Birmingham can’t afford to lose Federal funding. Now what?
Scott Key
Gonna be sanctuary to the extent they lose federal funds, then they’re just a friendly city. Just when you thought Birmingham might have their act together, they open their mouths. Pandering to the lowest common denominator
Scott Key
Mickey T Jacobs
Carol Parker
The city council just continues to outdo itself in stupidity!
Mickey T Jacobs
Some how I’m not surprised
Barbara Williams Wheeler
Instead of three shootings today, will be tripled in less than three hours. Birmingham can’t afford to be a sanctuary city. We need to be taking our goodwill to keeping the city safe.
Michelle Marchant Millar
I don’t think they were in any danger of anyone thinking that Birmingham might have their act together. As long as that circus of a city council is in town, it’s going to be a wreck.
Kevin Small
It’s funny how politicians decide which laws they will enforce and which ones they will ignore. Birmingham has been an embarrassment most of my adult life.
Greg Widick
I’m through spending any sales tax dollars in this City Of Birmingham, there are many alternative places to do my spending. I spend plenty, believe me . Not Now ….losers
Breezie Reed
Blood suckers everywhere
Katie Anderson Onofry
That isn’t that just great! Less money and now we are going to have people coming into town with no jobs or place to live AWESOME! don’t we have enough homeless and jobless.
Chuck Browning
What morons
John Knight
Anyone who hires them should gave to pay the FULL COST of returnimg them home (including legal fees, cost to police etc.). They should also have to pay a $5000.00 fine for each instance payable via crimestoppers to whoever turn them in. Jobs would dry up and they would self deport. And yes it would work because people will turn in their mother for $5000.00
Shane Carter
Let’s swap out all the hoodrats for refugees? I might be on to something?
Sissy Denney Ray
Stupid stupid stupid
Debbie Barrett Duncan
I agree Sissy Denney Ray. Y’all need to move.
Steve Lawrence
When Trump cuts off Federal Funding to Sanctuary Cities…UAB is going to get pinched so King Bell can make a political statement.
Reggie Wright
Sometimes best to do nothing Birmingham….this is one if them…let nature take its course…much overreaction elsewhere to go around…why not stay out of the great divide..
Matt Coleman
Good question even if not I would hope trussville police will inform the criminals ,and send them straight out of the city
Tina Weems Nicholas
I agree. They will lose more than federal funding that way.
Glenda Weaver Johnson
Stupid!!!!!
Glenda Barrow
Don’t we have enough problems now? We don’t need anymore!
Elaine Loggins Argent
consider the source, people….
Gwendolyn Wardlow
I shouldn’t be surprised by the comments, why am I surprised, sigh ..smh
Karen Owens
Just when Birmingham was beginning to be known for positive things. This will keep people from coming here. So much for the progress they have made, so much for the breweries, so much for the restaurants. What a huge mistake. People will start fleeing the surrounding areas as well, this will affect the surrounding communities also.
Jane Ward Norton
Not the same Birmingham I grew up in
John Alexander
Trussville. sad!
Tonya Hardin Yarchak
Birmingham never filed bankruptcy. Jefferson county did. Trussville is in Jefferson county.
Teresa Terri Johnson Brown
Karen u r so right. We were finally making progress now this
Bama Jason
I don’t believe this effects Trussville and the outlying towns, so burn baby burn. It’s the blind leading the uninformed in Birmingham. When the federal funding is pulled it’ll just turn into a bigger cesspool.
Charlie Beasley
No hope for stupidity. We continue to show our young people that illegal acts come with no consequences. Let’s watch the violent crime number sky rocket as a result. The next thing will be Bell and his buddies in a neighborhood praying for an end to violence.
Gerald Hicks
I believe a Resolution is non-binding. However, the message this sends to all illegals just blows my mind!
Pamela Hilton
Just insane! I can’t believe that the citizens and taxpayers do nothing to stop this insanity!!! Has Jefferson county resolved the waterworks fiasco????
Larry Parks
That means they will get more people to hijack, rob, and more down town “thug tourists” from Ensley to do it all. Does the good mayor EVER address the murders that have never been solved?
Ronald Scott
Now , I hate we only moved 50 miles out of Birmingham. Time to move again.,
Lamar Adkins
They can’t cut Medicaid up our governor refuse to accept the money from the federal government anyway ,theycan’t cut the Federal Highway money off because that money is already sitting in the bank really all they can do it’s cut grant money it goes to UAB.
Gary Fleming
Businesses will eventually close or pull out. Forget about the new stadium for UAB
Joey Butler
We’ll have to see exactly what this means down the road, but good job, Magic City.
Judy Parsons
Don’t we have have enough crime and free loaders now??
Darlene Harvey Cole
Like the murder rate isn’t enough of a deterrent? Now you advertise for obvious law breakers to come on in and make yourself at home. When do we, the taxpayers, get to decide what laws we want to ignore?
Betty Gilchrist Penuel
Wish we could move out of Bham.
Brenda Vanderburg
Me too !
Joey Blalock
Wrong Lamar! The Airport, the Civil right museum among others all recurve federal funding! Hurting UAB will be enough! Alabamas largest employer and a huge chunk of Birminghams economy! If UAB left Birmingham would fizzle out!
Joey Blalock
It won’t be good! All cities that proclaimed to be sanctuary cities have experienced budget shortfalls and a sharp increase in crime! And it will not help when the federal funding goes away which it will
Brian Wells
ok so what does this mean really
Ashley Holloway
A loss in federal funding.. but I’m not sure if that’s all that will happen as a result of this decision
Deliliah Goodwin Jackson
Businesses will relocate outside of the city. Residents will move and start shopping outside of Birmingham, it’s a domino effect. People that work in Birmingham will find jobs elsewhere.
Cindy Stieg
No more patronizing businesses in the Ham!!!