BART considers shielding immigrants without calling it ‘sanctuary’
BART directors will consider a policy Thursday that aims to protect people from immigration raids while riding the transit system or while trying to get a job with it. When Board of Directors member Lateefah Simon broached the idea of making BART a sanctuary transit agency in March, some directors and staff members bristled. The resolution that the BART board will consider Thursday at its meeting in Oakland avoids the word “sanctuary,” and says BART will yield to any federal or state law or court order regarding undocumented immigrants. The policy would prohibit BART from spending money or directing employees to help enforce immigration law. BART police would be barred from asking riders about their immigration status. “It’s strong enough to make sure law enforcement at BART is not going to be going after immigrants,” but avoids threatening to flout federal law and potentially risking funding. “The intention was to make a very strong statement to the BART community that police are going to focus on police business,” she said. Simon said the policy also makes it clear that people of all races, genders, cultures, religions and ethnicities are welcome on BART and that hateful behavior won’t be tolerated. BART directors will also consider adopting their nearly $2 billion operating and capital budgets for the coming year Thursday and rescinding an ordinance that allows police to fine riders who take more than a single seat on trains during commute hours.