Blog: City Blog

Mayor's Day of Immigration Action

Mayor Rogero participated in the U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Day of Immigration Action initiative on March 21 with a press conference and a proclamation.

In the fifth-floor atrium of the City County Building, the Mayor and Chief Rausch addressed members of the media, City employees and guests from the immigrant and refugee support community.

Chief Rausch, Mayor Rogero and Finbarr Saunders

Chief Rausch, Mayor Rogero and Finbarr Saunders

“We are a nation of immigrants,” Mayor Rogero said. “We need to remember that our country has developed and prospered because of people who came here for opportunities or against their will.” She noted that among those who built Knoxville and established some of its key businesses and houses of worship were Greek, Irish and German immigrants. “Diversity is a strength.”

Chief Rausch said that Knoxville Police officers will not take on the role of immigration officers. KPD is there to help, he said, and it’s harder to help keep people safe if they’re too afraid to call the police.

In a Knoxville Mercury article, Heather Duncan interviews several of the immigrant and refugee support community attendees, including a Johnson University student whose Honduran family has lived in Knoxville 14 years. She attends school under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, which allows children of undocumented residents to attend college and work.

You can watch the full video of the Mayor’s speech at WATE 6 On Your Side’s website.

Posted by ptravis On 22 March, 2017 at 3:22 PM