Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Enforcement Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee advances three motions to limit city cooperation with civil immigration enforcement
Summary
Council members introduced three motions in committee: a 90-day audit to stop asking residents about citizenship in city program workflows, a ban on sharing real-time surveillance for immigration enforcement absent court order, and a prohibition on using city property to stage immigration enforcement without a warrant; all were placed on the agenda for passage with no recorded committee vote in the transcript.
The youth and human services committee advanced three linked motions intended to limit local assistance to federal civil immigration enforcement and to protect immigrant residents, the committee chair said at Friday's meeting.
Council Member Ryan James introduced a two-part motion calling for a 90-day audit of city workflows to identify where the city inquires about a resident's citizenship for city-owned or operated programs and to end such inquiries. "It is absolutely inexcusable that we are asking our residents if they are citizens of The United States," James said, framing the audit as a public-safety and protections measure.
The chair outlined a second motion directing the administration to prohibit sharing real-time access to city-owned surveillance technology (cameras, drones, license-plate readers) with third parties for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement unless mandated by law or a court order.
A third motion directed the city to prohibit use of city-owned or city-controlled property to further federal immigration enforcement operations unless federal officials obtain a valid court order or judicial warrant; it also requested guidance for frontline staff to contact department leadership and legal counsel if noncity personnel seek access for enforcement activities.
Vice Chair Evan Nolan and other members expressed support, emphasizing broader efforts to help immigrant residents and the need to coordinate with legal counsel and nonprofit partners. The chair said the motions would be placed on the docket for passage; the committee transcript records the items being "put on for passage" but does not include a recorded committee vote.
