Around Town

LETTER: Event Shows How Watertown Welcomes Immigrants and Refugees

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The message from Watertown was loud and clear last Sunday: Our community is not afraid to welcome and nurture immigrants and refugees. Over sixty people came to the Watertown Free Public Library to share stories and learn how to separate fact from fiction regarding immigration. Presented by Watertown Citizens Refugee Support Group (a working group of
Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice & the Environment), President Sue-Ellen Hershman-Tcherepnin opened the afternoon with a reading of “New Colossus,” the poem by EmmaLazarus engraved on the pedestal of the Statue of Liberty. Refugee Support Group member and Immigration Attorney Elizabeth Goss framed
the conversation with facts about the past history and current situation of immigrants and refugees who reside in the U.S. She dispelled many harmful assumptions and myths, then introduced the 3 featured speakers: Watertown Police Lieutenant Daniel Unsworth, Watertown Middle School student and Kingian Non-violence Trainer Shivani Sharma, and international scholar/peace activist Dr. Yakir Englander. Lt. Unsworth spoke about the many challenges facing the WPD in their efforts to
ensure that all residents of Watertown feel safe and protected, regardless of their
immigration status.

Immigrants

Watertown Police Close to Releasing Policy on Working with Immigrants

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Watertown Police Chief Michael Lawn told those attending the Unity Breakfast Monday morning that this week the Watertown Police will release its policy for working with immigrants, and it will stress seeking to help and protect people regardless of citizenship. For the second year in a row, the event that celebrates the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr. was the forum for Lawn to address how police work with immigrants in Watertown. Last year, just before the inauguration of Donald Trump, Lawn assured immigrants that they should not be fearful of the Watertown Police. Monday, the chief repeated some of his words from last year. “What I want people to know is that we are here to help you in Watertown,” Lawn said, quoting his speech from last year.

Business

Watertown Company Honored for Offering English Classes to Employees

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Last week, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rosalin Acosta, spoke to a packed room of business leaders, immigrants, and English language program providers at Northeastern University. She was there to present awards at an event organized by English for New Bostonians to businesses that provide English classes for their immigrant workers, but she also had a personal message to share, English for New Bostonians announced. “My parents were educators in Cuba, but they didn’t speak English and they didn’t have licenses to teach here. My mom worked in a sweater assembly line. My dad worked in a machine shop.

Government

Watertown Police Writing Policy for Dealing with Immigrants, Sanctuary City Question Remains

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The Watertown Police Department will soon be releasing a written policy about how officers deal with immigrants, and will be reviewed by the Town Council. Town Manager Michael Driscoll told the Town Council Tuesday night that he expects it to be finished sometime in June. The Town Council has also been asked to pass a Sanctuary City ordinance to join other communities that have vowed to protect immigrants, documented or not. Town Council President Mark Sideris said Tuesday that he has not scheduled a date to discuss the subject. “I want to wait for the (Police Department’s) policy to see what it says, first,” Sideris said.

Government

Calls for Watertown to Become Sanctuary City Continue as Neighbors Adopt Policies

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As more area towns pass ordinances to declare that undocumented immigrants will be protected from federal efforts to deport them, the debate continues whether Watertown should join the growing list of Sanctuary Cities and Towns. The ordinances typically declare that local police departments will not check immigration status as part of routine matters, but they will if a crime is committed. Also, illegal aliens are not protected by the Sanctuary City ordinance if they have committed a felony or violent crime. Local supporters of Watertown becoming a Sanctuary Town held signs in Watertown Square followed by a rally at a nearby church attended by hundreds. The next week, dozens packed the Town Council Chambers to voice their opposition to the Council passing a Sanctuary City ordinance.

Government

Opponents to Watertown Becoming Sanctuary City Pack Council Meeting

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The Council Chamber was standing room only Tuesday night as residents opposed to Watertown becoming a Sanctuary City for undocumented immigrants came out to have their voices heard. The Town Council meeting came two days after hundreds rallied to support all immigrants and to discuss how Watertown could become a Sanctuary City. Around 50 people filled the room, the vast majority of whom applauded for statements opposing the town taking steps toward becoming a Sanctuary Community. Resident Dennis Holland said he did not want to see the town become a Sanctuary Community. “Sanctuary City seems big (in Watertown), but isn’t big to all of us,” Holland said.

Around Town

Local Groups to Hold Rally to Support Immigrants, Refugees in Watertown

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Several Watertown groups will be hosting vigil and community forum supporting immigrants and refugees in town this weekend. Organizers sent out the following announcement:
Please join us for a very special event on Sunday, February 26. Watertown Welcomes Immigrants is a community event to demonstrate support for immigrants and refugees living in Watertown. There will be a Vigil from 3:00-3:45 p.m. in Watertown Square. Please bring signs that express your support for immigrants and refugees in Watertown, in Massachusetts and in the country.

Schools

BC Study Looks for Ways Watertown Schools Can Connect with Non-English Speakers

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Students from a wide variety of cultures and nations fill the classrooms of the Watertown Public Schools, and a study by Boston College researchers seeks to make sure all families are included in what is going on at school. Wednesday night, Rebecca Lowenhaupt, an assistant professor at BC’s Lynch School of Education, told the School Committee that Watertown parents, in general, have a high participation rate in school activities, but the story is different for recent immigrants. “You have a high attendance of parents at back to school night of PreK through eighth grade – 95 percent were in attendance or reached out at that time,” Lowenhaupt said. “While there is a high attendance rate for PreK-8, there is a lower rate for those who first language is not English.” About 11 percent of the students in the Watertown schools are in the English Language Learner (also known as ESL) program, and they speak 28 different languages, with the most common being Portuguese, Spanish, Armenian, Arabic and Pashto.