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Public commenters urge York City to clarify stance on cooperation with ICE and protect immigrant families
Summary
Two public commenters asked council and the mayor to state whether the city will cooperate with federal immigration enforcement if federal funding is conditioned on cooperation, and urged protections for immigrant families amid recent federal policy shifts.
Two residents used the public-comment period at the Jan. 21 York City Council meeting to press the council and mayor to clarify the city's stance on cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to ask that local policies protect immigrant families.
Manuel Gomez, who identified himself as a York City resident, said the city’s existing executive order does not prohibit voluntary cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He asked the mayor’s office, council and the police department whether they would accept federal incentives that effectively encourage local cooperation with ICE, or instead decline cooperation even if federal funding were affected.
Gomez raised a scenario involving license-plate readers: local agencies that run those systems typically query NCIC databases, which can return matches tied to immigration violations. He said he had discussed the department’s current practice with a commissioner and understood the department treats those hits as “information only,” but he requested that policy be put in writing.
“Do we hold fast, and are we actually going to protect and abide by freedom and simply let the federal government do its thing without lifting a finger, not to oppose, but also not to assist?” Gomez asked.
Michael Walker, another York resident, urged councilors and candidates to state their positions ahead of upcoming campaigns and disputed arguments heard in past meetings that becoming a sanctuary city increases crime. Walker said York has welcomed thousands of immigrants under temporary status in recent years and that crime has fallen during that time. He called on faith leaders and community organizations to support immigrant neighbors and for council to move forward with a proposed bill to protect immigrant families, including sending it to committee if necessary.
Neither commenter cited a specific city ordinance that would change local cooperation. Gomez referenced the failed “trust act” and a city executive order; Walker referenced recent federal immigration-related executive orders. Council did not take action on those requests during the meeting and no formal policy change was recorded.
