top of page

LEARN MORE

Welcoming Cities:

What does a welcoming city ordinance NOT do:

  • Would not protect residents of the city from being deported. ICE can still conduct enforcement operations such as knock on doors or conduct raids. It just prevents city resources from being used to help those operations.

  • Would not violate federal immigration laws. The ordinance says local officials will not participate in voluntary programs or activities designed to make local police do the job of federal officials.

  • Would not provide lawful immigration status. This can only be done by the federal government under federal law.

WHAT IS A WELCOMING CITY ORDINANCE?

​Different "welcoming" communities have different types of ordinances. The ordinance we are proposing for Bloomington-Normal would...

  • Prohibit the use of local resources to aid in immigration enforcement efforts:

    • stopping or holding anyone based on immigration status

    • cooperating in ICE enforcement actions by providing surveillance or helping with raids

  • Prohibit the city from collecting or obtaining information on the on status of its residents

  • Require city officials to consider requests for certification for U visas (a way for undocumented immigrants who have been victims of crime and have cooperated with officials to become documented, which is instrumental in building trust between crime victims and police)

  • Train police to consider the risk of deportation when exercising its discretion to arrest individuals

​​

The full text of our proposed ordinance can be found here

Why is it important that we pass an ordinance?

  • Signals respect for the contributions that immigrants make to the entire community. Immigrant families, and in particularly children, face disruption and separation due to the loss of family members to deportation and the fear of deportation. Immigration enforcement also takes a toll on businesses and industries that rely on immigrant workers.

  • Strengthens relationships between law enforcement and immigrant communities.  If immigrants are reluctant to call local police for fear of the police’s cooperation with ICE, crimes go unreported, and perpetrators go unpunished.  Law enforcement agencies should recognize the need to build trusting relationships with immigrant communities to enhance the entire population’s public safety. 

  • Limits federal overreach.  Federal requests for local assistance in immigration enforcement operations creates an unfunded mandate that pulls local resources away from local issues. Immigration status and law is a federal concern that should be handled by federal officials.

bottom of page