The anti-Trump “sanctuary restaurant” movement to shield illegal immigrants has reached parity with the “sanctuary city” effort in many major cities, according to leaders of the effort.
Led by a legal group for restaurant workers and a “Latinx” advocacy organization, over 300 restaurants have joined the sanctuary effort, equal to the over 300 sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with federal officials seeking to detain criminal illegals, the deportation target of both former President Obama and President Trump.
“Sanctuary Restaurants, a joint project of ROC United and Presente.org, is proud to announce that it has surpassed 300 restaurants nationwide. Sanctuary Restaurants, an affirming project designed to welcome all, is not a legal distinction. Rather, it is a symbolic overture to restaurant workers, employers, and customers who seek a safe place,” they said in a release.
Unlike sanctuary cities who keep federal law enforcement at bay when seeking to detain illegals held in jails, the restaurants don’t have any legal authority. Instead, the group aims to promote and protect diversity.
They said:
We stand by restaurant workers, owners, and consumers and respect their dignity, human rights, and contributions to our industry and our nation – including immigrants, refugees, people of all genders, faiths, races, abilities, and sexual orientations. We have zero tolerance for sexism, racism, and xenophobia. We believe that there is a place at the table for everyone. Sanctuary Restaurants is a joint project of the Restaurant Opportunities Centers (ROC) United and Presente.org with the participation of thousands of workers, diners, and allies nationwide. Note: Sanctuary Restaurants is not a legal designation. We offer support and resources to workers, restaurants, and consumers to help create the inclusive and equitable world we want to see.
The restaurants are grouped mostly in urban areas like New York City, Washington, D.C., Denver and Los Angeles.
The movement has grown as the Trump administration releases new efforts to crack down on illegal immigrants with criminal records.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
