SHARE

Syrian-Born Mayor: Montvale Will Not Be Sanctuary City

MONTVALE, N.J. — Syrian-born Mayor Mike Ghassali will not be making Montvale a sanctuary city.

Michael Ghassali is the first Syrian-born Christian mayor in Montvale and the Eastern United States.

Michael Ghassali is the first Syrian-born Christian mayor in Montvale and the Eastern United States.

Photo Credit: Facebook

A sanctuary city is a municipality that has adopted a policy of protecting unauthorized immigrants by not prosecuting them for violating federal immigration laws and by ensuring that all residents have access to city services, regardless of immigration status.

Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah earlier this month signed an executive order upholding the borough's anti-discrimination policies. 

"Our law enforcement officers are hired to keep us safe and to enforce local, state and federal laws," Ghassali said in a Facebook post. "I will not be signing any executive orders that will ask our employees to defy federal laws. 

"A Mayor should not be advocating the defiance of federal laws; otherwise we will have Mayors signing orders challenging all different federal laws as they wish."

to follow Daily Voice Mahwah-Ramsey and receive free news updates.

SCROLL TO NEXT ARTICLE