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Residents tell South Bend council immigrant families feel fearful, urge formal statement
Summary
Multiple residents described fear among immigrant neighbors, recounted family histories and local incidents, and asked the council to adopt a statement reassuring residents that local police and city leadership will protect them.
Multiple residents used the Feb. 9 council meeting’s public‑comment period to urge the council to adopt language that reassures immigrant residents and to describe how fear is affecting daily life in South Bend.
One commenter recounted family immigration history and asked pointedly whether elderly immigrants would be forced into detention: “Would you put my grandma in detention?” Another resident argued enforcement costs and social harms outweigh benefits and urged a formal statement. Several commenters referenced national incidents and said local residents were “terrorized” by recent enforcement actions elsewhere.
London Espinosa Kennedy, who identified themself and their Pacific County residency, described a recent incident in Shoreline in which “a father was taken by ICE in front of his 2 year old” and urged council adoption of the resolution to provide reassurance. Kennedy also said the resolution “does not change laws or policies, and it does not tie the hands of law enforcement.”
Commenters asked the council to act quickly to protect families’ willingness to seek health care and other services and to publicize any statement broadly so immigrant residents see it.
