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Residents urge Aurora leaders to act on immigrant safety, request know-your-rights training and noncooperation pledge with ICE
Summary
Multiple residents urged the city to do more to protect immigrant residents, asking the council to require "know your rights" training for aldermen, clarify noncooperation between local law enforcement and ICE, and hold officials accountable for violations. Speakers cited recent detentions and urged policy, not just ceremonial support.
Speakers at the public-comment portion urged Aurora officials to take concrete steps to protect immigrant residents and to move beyond ceremonial recognition.
"Aurora cannot claim to be a proud city of immigrants while standing idle as those very immigrants are criminalized," said Dr. Sandy Gonzales Rivas of the Aurora Rapid Response Team, recounting an ICE detention the team responded to and asking council members to support community-led protections. She asked that all aldermen receive "know your rights" training provided by the Rapid Response Team and that the city formally ensure local law enforcement does not collaborate with ICE beyond existing state mandates.
Cynthia Serna, identifying herself as a Ward 6 resident speaking on behalf of Sempronidos, pressed aldermen by name to do more. "How is it that we have multiple Latino aldermen sitting on the city council, and yet virtually nothing is being done to ensure the safety, dignity, and well-being of Latino residents in this city," she said, arguing that families live in constant fear of detention and profiling.
Speakers requested specific policy steps: training for elected officials, a citywide affirmation that local law enforcement will not cooperate with ICE beyond the Trust Act's requirements, and accountability measures for any city official who violates noncooperation commitments. No formal response or policy action was announced during the meeting; the public-comment rules read at the start of the session prevent council members from engaging directly with speakers during the comment period.
The mayor's office later acknowledged the reports and noted staff would follow up with members of the public about concerns within the city's authority after adjournment, per the council's public-comment procedures.
