Boston Mayor Marty Walsh Made a Brilliant Political Move By Offering Illegal Immigrants Sanctuary at City Hall

In response to President Donald Trump's executive order yesterday to strip sanctuary cities of federal funding, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh responded by calling a press conference in which he declared he would turn Boston City Hall into a sanctuary for illegal immigrants.


Deep down I think Walsh is thanking Trump from the bottom of his heart because this is an absolutely brilliant political move on the Mayor's part. I say this for two reasons. First and foremost, Walsh is up for re-election in November and was recently challenged by Boston City Councilor Tito Jackson (who is African-American). Second, Walsh's administration is in the midst of scandal. Two of Walsh's top officials were indicted last year for allegedly extorting organizers of the Boston Calling Music Festival to hire union labor. The Boston Calling Music Festival used to be held on Boston City Hall grounds on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends but last year moved to the Harvard Athletic Complex in Allston as a result of the controversy. Hours before Walsh's press conference, new court filings revealed that Walsh attended two of the meetings with Boston Calling organizers.


But with Walsh's press conference yesterday all people are talking about is Walsh offering City Hall as a sanctuary instead of focusing on the possibility he might have been involved in intimidating the Boston Calling organizers. Whatever support in the African-American community Walsh might lose to Jackson will be more than offset than support he gains from Boston's Latino community as well as white liberals who oppose President Trump's immigration policies. Unless Walsh is indicted between now and November, I believe his re-election has been secured. Not only that but in becoming a champion of illegal immigrants Walsh becomes a national figure and a potential Democrat presidential candidate in 2020. It also doesn't hurt that Walsh has the support of Massachusetts Republican Governor Charlie Baker in these efforts.


I work right across from Boston City Hall. I have a feeling things are going to get exciting around here.