A councilwoman wants to declare Yonkers a sanctuary city to ease fears of deportation within the immigrant community.

Approximately 14,000 people in Yonkers are undocumented, according to the Hudson Valley Community Coalition.  Some are seeking legal residency.

Yonkers Councilwoman Corazon Pineda, who introduced the resolution to council, says she wants the city to become a place where Yonkers police and employees cut ties with federal immigration authorities.

“If someone, an undocumented person, has committed a non-violent crime such as driving infractions, and they are detained, they will only be prosecuted for that specific crime,” says Pineda.

Pineda says being a sanctuary city would also enable more people to report crimes to police without fear of deportation, as police would be prohibited from questioning people about their immigration status.

ICE agents would still be able to come to Yonkers and detain undocumented immigrants.

Opponents of sanctuary cities say the federal government should be allowed to assist Yonkers in enforcing immigration law.

The legislation has not yet moved into committee.