BREAKING: Emails show BPD voluntarily offered up residents suspected of being undocumented to ICE!
Amidst repeated claims from BPD Chief Brendan Heffner AND council members that "BPD has not turned anyone over to ICE"and requests to halt discussion on the "Welcoming City" ordinance, the Keep Families Together Campaign has uncovered and surfaced four recent instances where the Bloomington Police Department voluntarily and unnecessarily reported individual residents of our community to ICE.
This is unacceptable. This type of collaboration between the Bloomington Police Department and ICE make our community complicit in the Trump Administration's inhumane immigration policies, creates fear in the immigrant community, are an unnecessary expense of city money, and erode trust between community and police. The Bloomington City Council must pass a strong "Welcoming City" ordinance to keep this from happening ever again!
The Bloomington City Council must pass a strong "Welcoming City" ordinance to keep this from happening ever again!
The Bloomington City council was scheduled to debate and vote on a Welcoming City ordinance this Monday. But earlier this week, five council members--including Karen Schimdt, Mboka Mwilambwe, Joni Painter, Kim Bray and David Sage--authored a letter voicing opposition to the ordinance and asking the city manager to halt discussion on it indefinitely!
3 STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TO SUPPORT A "WELCOMING CITY"
CANVAS on Monday, February 12 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. Join us at 510 E. Washington St. #109 as we canvas and flyer to mobilize grassroots support for the ordinance. First-timers are welcome! We will practice and have all materials ready for you. We will be outside, so please dress appropriately! \
ATTEND THE COUNCIL MEETING on Monday, February 12 6:30-7:30 p.m. After canvassing, join us at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall (109 E. Olive St,), where our coalition will make an important statement with new information for the city council, media, and supporters.
REACH OUT TO YOUR CITY COUNCIL Were you surprised to see council member Schmidt's name on that opposition letter? Us too! Last year, council member Schimdt agreed to champion the Welcoming City ordinance and repeatedly told our campaign that she was a supporter. Send council member Schmidt an email (ward6@cityblm.org) or give her a call (309-824-2257) and urge her to re-pledge her support for THIS ordinance: http://bit.ly/CompromiseOrdinance If possible, please reach out to the other four council members who signed this letter and share your thoughts.