Montreal Activists Demand Sanctuary City Declaration from Mayor
Dozens of Montreal residents assembled outside City Hall on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in a rally urging Mayor Soraya Martinez Ferrada to officially designate Montreal as a sanctuary city for individuals living in Canada without permanent immigration status. The demonstration, organized by advocacy groups such as Solidarity Across Borders, Women of Diverse Origins, and the Defund the Police coalition, featured participants carrying posters in support of undocumented migrants, highlighting a growing push for local protections.
Voices from the Rally: Calls for Inclusive Policies
Samira Jasmin, a spokesperson for Solidarity Across Borders, emphasized the importance of the sanctuary city designation during the event. "Making Montreal a sanctuary city means allowing all Montrealers to feel protected, regardless of their status," she stated. "It means allowing everyone access to housing, employment, health care, education, food banks, social assistance, and unemployment support." Jasmin also noted that Mayor Ferrada, as the first racialized woman from a migrant background to lead Montreal, faces high expectations to adopt a strong stance safeguarding the integrity and dignity of undocumented and precarious-status residents.
Historical Context and Political Backdrop
The issue of Montreal becoming a sanctuary city first emerged during Donald Trump's initial presidency in 2017, when then-Mayor Denis Coderre declared the city as such. However, advocacy groups later criticized this move as largely symbolic, arguing it failed to provide concrete protections for undocumented individuals. In 2018, Mayor Valérie Plante reversed the policy, citing the city's lack of authority to ignore arrest warrants issued by the Canada Border Services Agency.
This rally occurs against a backdrop of heightened immigration enforcement tensions across North America. With Trump's second term focusing on cracking down on illegal immigration and expanding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) powers, anti-ICE demonstrations have surged. In Montreal, a recent protest saw about 1,000 people gather outside GardaWorld's headquarters in the St-Laurent borough to criticize the company's contract with ICE.
Broader Implications and Comparative Policies
Other major Canadian cities, including Toronto and Vancouver, have implemented policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, setting precedents for Montreal. The rally underscores ongoing debates about municipal roles in immigration matters and the need for tangible safeguards for vulnerable populations. As of now, Mayor Ferrada has not publicly commented on the activists' demands, leaving the future of Montreal's sanctuary city status uncertain amid evolving political and social dynamics.
