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Residents, immigrant advocates urge council to protect families from federal immigration actions
Summary
During public forum, multiple speakers — immigrants, community organizers and service providers — urged the council to take steps to protect immigrant neighbors, increase transparency about local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, and expand legal and social supports.
Dozens of speakers filled the council chamber during public forum to press the Knoxville City Council for action or stronger public posture on immigration enforcement and its local impacts.
Speakers included immigrant residents, faith leaders and representatives of Centro Hispano and other service providers who said families in Knoxville are living in fear of detentions and deportations. Several speakers described increased calls for legal help, a rise in mental‑health crises among immigrants and that some families were avoiding public benefits or medical care because they fear immigration consequences.
Centro Hispano director Claudia Caballero told the council her organization has seen referrals and demand for legal and social services spike in recent months, with immigration questions now constituting a large share of calls. She described families delaying medical care, skipping benefit applications and facing housing instability.
Other speakers called on the city to increase transparency about any local cooperation with federal immigration authorities and to develop local policies to limit municipal participation in federal immigration enforcement. Paul De Leon, retired teacher and community member, framed the debate as a civil‑rights and democracy issue and urged the council to stand with immigrant neighbors. Steven Nabb, a property owner who spoke earlier on a different agenda item, said the city should consider protective measures now to prevent family separations. A number of speakers specifically urged noncooperation with ICE, legal defense funds, and public reporting of requests from federal agencies.
Council members heard testimony but noted limits on municipal authority over federal immigration policy. Several council members, including Council member Thomas and Vice Mayor Smith, expressed sympathy and emphasized the need to explore what the city can lawfully do — from local legal aid and emergency assistance to measures that increase transparency of law enforcement interactions with federal agencies. Some also suggested convening a cross‑departmental staff review to identify practical, lawful steps the city can take to support vulnerable families.
Centro Hispano and other advocates asked the council to investigate options including: stronger public reporting when federal requests occur, expanded legal assistance funds, a municipal policy limiting information shared with federal immigration authorities where lawful, and a public outreach campaign to counter misinformation and encourage safe access to health and social services.
The council took no immediate binding action during the meeting but members signaled they will review legal options and potential local programs. Several council members asked staff to return with options the city could legally implement to increase protections and supports for immigrant residents.
