Jeff Monroe, a community organizer and Mount Vernon resident, told the City Council on Sept. 10 that he had learned about what witnesses described as enforcement activity on Columbus Avenue on Sept. 3 and asked the council what it would do to protect residents.

Monroe said he did not have confirmed evidence that federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents were involved. "I don't know for a fact if it's an ICE raid," he told the council, saying witnesses had reported that five people were taken but that details were unclear.

Monroe asked the council to consider policy or symbolic responses and criticized what he called widespread surveillance and data collection in the city. He urged the council to create stronger institutional avenues for community engagement beyond social media and short public‑comment periods.

Council responses: Councilwoman Gleeson said she would look into the reported activity. Councilman Poteet told Monroe the city has limited authority over federal immigration enforcement but urged voter registration and electoral participation as a remedy, saying, "Don't boo. Vote." Councilman Thompson defended the city's camera program as a public‑safety tool and said the council is committed to resident safety. Council President Brown said the city could offer "know your rights" events in collaboration with legal aid and invited Monroe to propose specific ideas for institutional engagement. Several council members said they would follow up with the police department to investigate the reported incident.

What the council did and did not do: Council members agreed to investigate the reported activity and to follow up with staff; no formal resolution or ordinance was introduced or passed regarding immigration enforcement or surveillance at the Sept. 10 meeting.

Why it matters: Reports of enforcement activity and concerns about surveillance and community engagement can affect trust between residents and government and may prompt non‑legislative city actions such as public education, legal‑aid partnerships or internal policy reviews.