Behind the Doors of Welcoming Communities
Like doors opening despite closed political borders, Cambridge and Somerville became gateways of hope that offered immigrants a place to call home.
In response to the United States government’s treatment of Central American refugees fleeing civil war and violence in 1985, Cambridge became the first city in Massachusetts to declare itself a sanctuary city. Through the Sanctuary Resolution of Cambridge, they aimed to protect immigrants and push back against exclusion.
Somerville followed in 1987 by passing the Sanctuary Resolution of Somerville. The resolution stated that the city should not provide information about residents' immigration status to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which was then known as the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), to protect immigrants.
Despite the growing challenges, both cities have stayed committed to welcoming those in need, wherein Cambridge reaffirmed its resolution in 2006 and 2016, while Somerville did so in 1989, 1993, 2014, and 2016 before adopting the Welcoming Community Ordinance.
From Sanctuary City to Welcoming Community
In 2018, a controversial case involving a judge accused of helping an undocumented immigrant avoid ICE in Massachusetts prompted Somerville and Cambridge to reaffirm their sanctuary ordinances once again. This came after President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 13767, titled "Border Security and Immigration Enforcement Improvements," which pushed stricter immigration rules in the United States.
In June of 2019, the City of Somerville passed Ordinance Number 2019-14, known as the Somerville Welcoming Community Ordinance, which introduced more comprehensive measures to protect immigrant residents.
This ordinance replaced Section 2.6 of the Somerville Municipal Code, which is The Trust Act, in 2014, wherein school and victim protections were not addressed. Now, it includes a formal complaint process for violations and ensures individuals involved in ICE interventions are informed of their rights. It also includes potential eligibility for U visa certification under federal law and directing police to issue court summons rather than arrests for unlicensed drivers.
Cambridge expressed the same commitment by passing its Welcoming Community Ordinance on February 10, 2020. The ordinance emphasizes issuing a court summons rather than arresting an unlicensed driver, allowing time for a licensed driver to take the vehicle, unless impoundment is required by law.
Building Homes, Not Prisons
With the implementation of measures to protect and support its immigrant communities through equitable law enforcement practices through the summons-over-arrest policy, the number of arrests has significantly declined in Cambridge.
Data from the Cambridge Police Department's Procedural Justice Dashboard showed that arrests, which were 1,450 in 2010, fell to 676 in 2023, while summonses increased. Since 2019, summonses have outnumbered arrests each year, which showed a shift toward alternatives to arrest, especially for minor offenses.
Similarly, in an interview with Maria Teresa Nagle, the director of the Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs (SOIA), she stated that making Somerville a welcoming community makes local police focus more on keeping everyone safe, whether they are documented or not.
“We have had lower and lower crime when we have been able to conduct our welcoming community policies well,” said Nagle. “Being a welcoming community makes us all safer — all of us, not just immigrants.”
According to theCity of Somerville's Police Data Crime Reports, there was a 2.4% increase in incident reports made via calls between 2018 and 2019. This suggests heightened community engagement and growing trust in local authorities since the city was declared a welcoming community.
This increase in reporting coincided with a continued decline in actual crime rates, which began earlier and became more pronounced after 2019, with reported crimes decreasing by 1.3% from 2018 to 2019 and by 6.8% the following year, in 2020.
Aside from building trust, immigrants can now report crimes without fear, and the protection of their data has helped them access housing, education, and jobs. “This is why Union Square has been voted one of the coolest neighborhoods in the world," said Nagle. “It is because of our immigrant-owned businesses and the opportunities that being a welcoming community offers.”
Nagle also clarified that federal immigration enforcement remains entirely within the federal government's jurisdiction, and that local policies and the adoption of inclusive practices do not interfere with federal authority. She emphasized that being a welcoming community does not hinder the federal government from fulfilling its responsibilities, and welcoming policies do not obstruct federal action; rather, they coexist without conflict.
Reaffirming Commitments
Now, after President Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025, he issued executive orders targeting immigrants and their families and blocked many pathways to safety for LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing persecution. These orders also included stricter visa vetting, limits on birthright citizenship, and changes to asylum, refugee, and border policies.
In response to this, Somerville passed Reaffirming Somerville’s Commitment as a Welcoming Community for Justice, Equity, and Inclusion. The resolution emphasizes a commitment to providing and funding resources for immigrants, including legal assistance for those facing deportation or removal proceedings.
“Now, a welcoming community here in Somerville means that we do not discriminate based on your immigration status, religion, sexual orientation, or sexual identity. You are our resident, and we will serve you to the best of our abilities, no matter who you are or your political beliefs,” said Nagle.
On March 3, 2025, Cambridge City Council also reaffirmed its commitment as a sanctuary city for transgender and nonbinary individuals. Carolina Almonte, executive director of Commission on Immigrant Rights & Citizenship (CIRC), Cambridge Human Rights Commission (CHRC), and the LGBTQ+ Commission in Cambridge, shared the letters she sent to immigrant-serving organizations and the city council.
“We want to reaffirm our commitment to be a sanctuary city, not only for immigrants, but also for trans and non-binary individuals as well,” said Almonte
.
Rights Beyond Borders
Now, Cambridge continues to engage diverse communities through Cambridge Know Your Rights training, multilingual consultations, and a free monthly legal clinic via DeNovo. Cambridge also partners with groups such as Project Citizenship and the African Bridge Network on events like Citizenship Day and workshops for foreign-trained professionals. Additional support includes a welcome event with food, music, and resources, an immigrant services liaison, and a New Resident Resource Guide to help newcomers navigate healthcare, schools, and housing.
SOIA also partnered with the Somerville Family Learning Collaborative (SFLC) to offer multilingual Somerville Know Your Rights training sessions, providing immigrants and their families in Somerville with essential resources and guidance during this time.
With this, Cambridge and Somerville showed that being a welcoming community means more than just opening doors to provide immigrants a safe home. They also opened ways to justice, freedom, and equality for all that reaches beyond the closed borders of the U.S.
By consistently reaffirming their commitment, these welcoming communities are not only opening their doors to those in need but also setting an example for other cities to follow in advocating for the well-being of their residents.
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