As President Donald Trump's clamps down on refugees, a local city councillor wants to make Ottawa a "sanctuary city" for undocumented immigrants.
The idea comes amid confusion and chaos caused by U.S. President Donald Trumps' ban on refugees and travel to and from Muslim-majority countries.
Somerset Coun. Catherine McKenney says making Ottawa a sanctuary city would protect undocumented immigrants and allow them access to municipal services, without fear they'll be turned over to border officials for deportation.
"It's not about asking police to turn a blind eye to anything that happens that is against the law," says McKenney. "But if someone is stopped in a routine traffic stop and is found to not have their papers ... we would not turn them into immigration today."
Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury and Kitchissippi Coun. Jeff Leiper have also tweeted out their support for the idea.
"People are frightened. They're not sure what the ramifications are for them," Says McKenney. "We just want to make sure that we are protecting people who are here."
Toronto and Hamilton have already adopted this policy.
McKenney in the process of drafting a motion and intends to present the idea to council next week.