Durham City Council adopts 'Fourth Amendment workplace' resolution after public testimony
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Summary
Durham City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution designating city workplaces as part of a “Fourth Amendment workplace” effort and asking the city manager to direct staff training to protect employees and residents from warrantless workplace searches.
Durham City Council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution declaring City of Durham workplaces part of a Fourth Amendment workplace effort and directing the city manager to "direct staff to uphold the Fourth Amendment at their workplace and city agencies and report back to council any needs or barriers to effective training." The resolution passed after several minutes of council remarks and more than a dozen public comments urging the city to act.
Supporters from Durham CAN, Siembra NC and the Durham Workers Rights Commission told the council the resolution would help immigrant and nonwhite residents who face heightened risk of immigration enforcement in workplaces. Elise Ballen, chair of the Durham Workers Rights Commission, told the council, “We will all be safer the more workplaces in the city are Fourth Amendment workplaces.”
The measure, introduced by Council Member J. Caballero, affirms that the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures and cites recent incidents of warrantless workplace actions by federal immigration agents as a reason for local action. The resolution encourages the city manager to direct training for city employees and invites private workplaces and agencies to join the effort.
During public comment, speakers described fear among immigrant families and asked the city to make training and language-accessible information available. Several speakers asked that the city commit to specific training for frontline staff and to develop clear procedures for employees who encounter federal agents.
Council members praised the community organizations that brought the resolution forward and highlighted the bilingual presentation of the proclamation and the council’s ability to stream meetings in multiple languages. After debate and public comment the council moved, seconded and voted; the motion passed unanimously.
The resolution is advisory: it directs internal city training and asks city workplaces to join the initiative. It does not create a new municipal ordinance or change law governing federal agencies. The text directs staff to report back to council on implementation needs and barriers.
