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Council member introduces ordinance to limit city resources for federal immigration enforcement; council schedules committee of the whole
Summary
Councilmember Hainem introduced Ordinance 37-2026 to bar use of city resources for federal immigration enforcement and to guarantee equal access to services; an initial attempt to add the ordinance to tonight's amended agenda failed, but a Committee of the Whole was scheduled for Feb. 17 for full discussion and legal review.
Councilmember Hainem formally introduced Ordinance 37-2026 on Feb. 2, describing it as a limited ordinance to ensure the city “spends city money on city responsibilities” and does not discriminate based on immigration status. He said he vetted the language with immigration counsel and that the ordinance would comply with state and federal law while opting out of using local resources for federal immigration enforcement.
When the council voted on whether to add the ordinance to the amended agenda the motion failed on a roll call (2 in favor, 5 opposed). Members who voted against adding the ordinance cited process concerns and asked for fuller involvement from the law director, chief of police and administrative staff before any formal vote. In response, the council scheduled a Committee of the Whole for Feb. 17 at 6:00 p.m. to allow Hainem to present the ordinance, receive legal advice and hear the chief’s input before moving to a first reading.
Hainem said he introduced the ordinance now because “the community at large will be aware of exactly what is proposed and also what is not in this ordinance.” Mayor and other council members said they preferred to hear from the law director and police chief before adding it to the agenda for a first reading.
