SPRINGFIELD -- City Councilor Adam Gomez sharply criticized Mayor Domenic J. Sarno on Tuesday for his "callous" comments about a sanctuary at South Congregational Church, with Gomez saying he is among many people starting to refer to Sarno as "Mayor Trump."

In a prepared release, Gomez said that Sarno's comments about a Peruvian woman taking refuge at a new church sanctuary on Maple Street are being delivered "in a Trump-like fashion."

Sarno has called for a review of the church, including inspections for any housing code violations.

President Donald Trump wants a crackdown on immigrants who are in the country illegally, including deportations and the building of a wall along the southern border of the United States.

Gomez said the mother who took refuge, who has been identified only as Gisella, has two children, has been in the country for 17 years, pays taxes and was gainfully employed.

"(Sarno) uses federal law as a reason for his callous rhetoric, yet the council just spent two hours with his administration ironing out details for recreational marijuana establishments that run afoul of federal law," Gomez said.

Sarno, through a spokeswoman, had no comment on Gomez's release.

Gomez said Sarno's comparison of his Italian parents coming to the country as legal immigrants following immigration law shows he has "zero grasp on the immigration process today compared to many years ago."

Sarno has called on his city departments to inspect the church property for housing code issues and to begin the process to remove the church's property tax-exempt status.

Gomez said he is not surprised at the mayor's stance.

"Instead of sending code enforcement into this church, maybe he should direct them to the hundreds of other dilapidated structures and unsafe housing caused by absentee landlords in our city," Gomez said. "Our City has more serious issues than to further separate families and hurt places of worship! I wish he attacked those issues with the same energy and vigor."