Last December, after a lengthy recount process, Boston City Councilor Julia Mejia won her seat by just one vote. Mejia, 49, is not only the first Latina woman elected to the Boston City Council, but is also an immigrant from the Dominican Republic. She and her family arrived in the United States when Mejia was five, settling in Dorchester, MA.
@juliaforboston posing with canvassers
Mejia’s long history of advocating for immigrant’s rights stems from the treatment of her family; she said her first job was translating for her mother. In her maiden speech (the first speech a Councilor gives after being sworn into office) on January 15th, Councilor Julia Mejia proposed the implementation of sanctuary safe spaces across the city.
To be specific, Mejia called for a hearing to discuss this issue, aiming to make culturally and educationally significant places, like libraries and schools, protected spaces for immigrants. This would bring together Boston Public Schools, immigrant rights groups, and local law enforcement to determine the importance of these areas to immigrants. Mejia seeks to help other immigrants feel safer and more at home in Boston than her family originally did.
@juliaforboston at her inaugural celebration
Our city of Boston is incredibly diverse, full of families from different backgrounds. In fact, as of 2000, 25% of Boston residents are foreign-born. That statistic may be outdated, but even so, that means the percent is now only higher. Adjusting to a new home, especially one in an entirely new country and culture is incredibly difficult, and it is integral we help ease this adjustment through plans like Mejia’s sanctuary safe spaces.
“I believe we have the opportunity at the local government level to impact the national level. Fear of deportation hinders personal, social, and financial growth,” said Mejia in a written statement. “I recently filed a hearing order for addressing civil rights in the creation of sanctuary safe spaces in Boston so students, and all immigrants, don’t have to live in fear.”
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