Berwyn council refers proposed tightening of ‘welcoming city’ ordinance after wide public comment on immigration enforcement

The Berwyn City Council voted unanimously to refer proposed amendments to the city’s “welcoming city” ordinance to the city attorney for draft language after a lengthy public-comment period focused on immigration enforcement and community safety.

Council action came after a string of residents, neighborhood advocates and organizers urged the council to strengthen local protections against cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Alderman Pabon moved to refer his communication requesting amendments; Alderman Leija seconded the motion, and the council voted eight to zero to send the request to the city attorney’s office for drafting.

The matter drew the meeting’s largest public turnout. Mayor Lavera opened the public comment period with a statement distributed in print and posted online and said the city and the Berwyn Police Department would not “cooperate or assist any federal agency when it comes to anything regarding immigration or deportation,” referencing guidance circulated by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul.

Residents who spoke asked the council to close perceived loopholes in the existing ordinance, expand data protections and bar local agencies from joining federal task forces that could be used for immigration enforcement. Elizabeth Ojeda Jimenez, a long-time Berwyn resident, asked the council to “revisit and strengthen the welcoming city ordinance” and urged the body to include community members in any review process. She concluded a portion of her remarks with the short plea: “No exceptions.”

Other speakers described daily effects of enforcement actions on school attendance, work and local business patronage. Letty Garcia said Berwyn is “65% Latino” and told the council her family and many residents feel unsafe, that “scared mothers are having their children miss school” and that store traffic had declined because of fear. Several speakers described local volunteer “rapid response” and mutual-aid efforts that have been documenting and responding to reported immigration-enforcement sightings.

Alderman Pabon framed his referral as both an immediate and a longer-term response: he asked the city attorney to draft amendments based on the communication he submitted, and he committed council staff and his office to support mutual-aid efforts in the community. After the motion was seconded by Alderman Leija, the roll call produced eight ayes and no nays.

The council did not adopt substantive ordinance text at the meeting; the referral directs the city attorney to prepare language for future council consideration. The record shows the council also discussed making the human-relations committee available to the community to ensure public participation in any amendment process.

Members of the public asked the council to incorporate state guidance and to clarify that city databases and emerging digital systems not be used to assist federal immigration agencies. The mayor and council said they will publicize workshops and know-your-rights events offered by local and state partners.

The referral ends the meeting’s action on this item for now; further ordinance language and any subsequent votes will appear on a future council agenda when the city attorney returns draft amendments to the council.