The Truth Staff
Members of Toledo City Council held a press conference on Monday, March 9, to announce that, in light of their concerns about ICE raids in Toledo and the sharing of immigration information with the federal government, they have drafted legislation to address the concerns that they share with local residents.
The legislation package consists of two ordinances and two resolutions. One ordinance would amend the municipal code to explicitly state that access to city services will not be denied based on immigration status and prohibit city officials and departments from using city funds, personnel or property to apprehend anyone based on immigration status – unless so ordered by a court.
The second ordinance would amend the municipal code to prohibit restricting access to schools and day care centers and prohibit the harassment of educators.
One of the resolutions would ask the Toledo City Plan Commission to review amendments to the municipal code that require a special use permit for detention center.
The other resolution would urge all federal agencies to conduct themselves in accordance with the laws of various government bodies and the U.S. Constitution and cease the wearing of non-medical face coverings and the use of lethal force.
Councilmembers Nick Komives; Theresa Gadus; Brittany Jones, PhD, and Erin Kramer spoke about the importance of codifying how the city government, particularly the Safety Department, should interact with ICE in order to ensure that the rights of residents and their ability to access education, health care and leisure activities be preserved.
The legislation was due to be introduced to the general public on Tuesday, March 10, during a Committee of the Whole session.
The responsibility for immigration enforcement is that of the federal government, admitted Komives as he opened Monday’s press conference. “Our responsibility as a city is to clearly define how our local government interacts with those efforts and how our residents are treated when accessing city services.”
Komives said the proposed legislation is an effort to “provide clarity and to ensure that the trust of the people will be served.”
Gadus, who drafted the legislation along with Komives, said that “we are joining collective voices across the country … residents have asked us to see what we can do and what we can codify.”
There are a total of six co-sponsors of the legislation – those present on Monday, along with Mac Driscoll and Adam Martinez.
In the past, City Council had declined to pass such legislation since immigration is indeed the responsibility of the federal government, however, heightened concern over ICE actions around the nation has prompted law makers to legislate those concerns – most notably by planning to restrict ICE access to public institutions such as schools and hospitals.
“All of our students should feel comfortable,” added Gadus.
Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz was also on hand at the Monday press conference to lend his voice of approval to the City Council legislation. Noting that a citizen’s group in recent weeks “asked for something and their government responded, they are codifying what has already been the city’s practice.”
The legislation, the mayor added, was drafted with the support and assistance of the city’s legal department and also with area law enforcement departments.
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