Somerville committee outlines what 'welcoming community' means, highlights local legal and volunteer resources

The Somerville Public Health and Safety Committee discussed the city's "welcoming community" policy and local supports for immigrants during a lengthy public agenda item, with city staff and neighborhood volunteers describing services, outreach and gaps.

Maria Teresa Nagel, Director of the Somerville Office of Immigrant Affairs, told the committee the city's policy rests on three tenets: treating immigration enforcement as a federal responsibility, ensuring equal access to city services regardless of origin or identity, and maintaining confidentiality "to the full extent allowable by law." She said Somerville police do not assist federal immigration enforcement and that the policy is intended to increase trust so residents report crimes and cooperate with public safety efforts. "Being undocumented does not give you a get out of jail free card. It is the opposite," Nagel said,…