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Residents urge Montgomery to support Immigrant Trust Act; committee promises review
Summary
Dozens of residents urged the Montgomery Township Committee during public comment to pass a municipal resolution in support of the Immigrant Trust Act, citing local detentions and community safety; the committee thanked speakers and said it will discuss the request with legal counsel and partner officials.
A string of residents used the public comment period to press the Montgomery Township Committee to adopt a municipal resolution urging state passage of the Immigrant Trust Act and to protect immigrant neighbors from aggressive federal enforcement.
Speakers including Sherry Sollinger, Irfan Khawaja, former mayor and state legislator Sunif Jaffer, and several other longtime Montgomery residents described recent immigration enforcement actions that affected local families and businesses and urged the township to signal support for state legislation that would strengthen an existing Attorney General directive. "Please commit to take action for the Immigrant Trust Act and ensure our communities are defended," Sherry Sollinger said.
Why it matters: Residents said municipal endorsement can amplify support at the state level and help protect community members who rely on public services. Multiple speakers also cited third-party research and local cases — including a Montgomery restaurateur reported detained for an extended period — to argue that enforcement sweeps have broader effects on school attendance, public-health access and trust in local institutions.
Committee reaction: Committee members thanked speakers for coming, acknowledged the limits of municipal authority on federal immigration enforcement, and committed to further discussion, legal review and outreach to legislative and congressional partners. One committee member noted that municipal resolutions have helped shape state action on prior issues and that the committee will consider next steps and possible future agenda items.
What happened next: No formal resolution was adopted at this meeting. Committee members said they will discuss the matter in detail at an upcoming meeting and consult with legal counsel before deciding whether to place a resolution on a future agenda.
