ST. LOUIS – When recently asked about the City of St. Louis’ position on immigration, Mayor Tishaura Jones described the city as committed to being a safe and supportive place for newcomers.
During a news conference Monday, Jones said, “St. Louis is a welcoming city” and noted various initiatives that aim to assist immigrants and refugees.
“St. Louis is a welcoming city, as evidenced by our establishment of the office for new Americans to connect resettling people from all over the world who are choosing St. Louis as their home,” said Jones. “To connect them to jobs, housing, and other resources needed to thrive.”
Immigration has become a renewed focus following Donald Trump’s first full week in his second presidential term. According to the Associated Press, Trump has signed 10 executive orders on immigration, while U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reported making hundreds of immigration arrests daily nationwide from Thursday to Monday.
Last year, the St. Louis region was anticipating one of its highest numbers of new immigrant arrivals in decades, around 2,500 people. As of last Friday, ICE had not confirmed any immigration arrests in the St. Louis area or returned messages left by FOX 2. On Tuesday, however, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported that dozens of refugees have been blocked from settling in St. Louis, following Trump’s executive orders.
Meanwhile, some Missouri lawmakers are ramping up efforts for immigration law enforcement, including a proposed bill that would imprison immigrants for life who are in the country illegally and convicted of trespassing.