FREDERICK, Md. — The Mayor of Frederick is vowing to use taxpayer dollars to defend undocumented migrants from the incoming Trump administration.
On November 21 Mayor Michael O'Connor held a press conference reassuring the safety of Frederick's immigrant population
O'Connor pledged in the next fiscal budget to create a "Legal Advocacy Fund" to assist "residents who may be harmed by policies from the new administration."
"Ensuring they have the legal support they need to stand strong and remain in this community they've chosen to call home," O'Connor said.
The Mayor promised Frederick Police wouldn't question any residents about their immigration status.
"We refuse to aid and abet outside agencies attempting to detain deport or remove any residents from our community," said O'Connor.
His comments were met with fierce criticism on social media.
"The fact that you are willing to use taxpayer money to prevent federal law from being enforced is grounds for impeachment...and imprisonment," one Facebook user wrote.
"You should be sued by your constituents," wrote another. "If you need the attention so badly, use taxpayer money to aid veterans and the homeless."
"You are so out of touch with the people and reality," read a third post. "People want their tax dollars to improve their way of life. Not take away and continue to destroy the community."
Frederick County Sheriff Chuck Jenkins, a staunch supporter of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, also slammed O'Connor's remarks, questioning his authority to allocate taxpayer dollars for such an initiative.
“Mayor O’Connor is doing a terrible disservice to the citizens of Frederick City. He has no right to unilaterally decide to use local taxpayer money to fund legal counsel for illegals taken into custody by ICE for deportation. Taxpayers are angered by his comment," Jenkins said in a statement to WMAR. "I believe his comments give the perception that he can protect criminal aliens from being taken into custody by ICE and that potentially invites criminals and criminal gang elements into Frederick. The Mayor has no authority to interfere with federal immigration enforcement efforts and is way out of his lane on this issue."
O'Connor is the latest Democratic leader around the nation to oppose Trump's deportation efforts, joining fellow outspoken Mayors, Mike Johnston in Denver and Brandon Johnson in Chicago.
It's not the first time the City of Frederick has clashed with opponents of illegal immigration.
Back in September the city council passed Resolution 24-24 by a 4-1 vote, allowing residents 18 and older to vote in city elections regardless of citizenship status.
