(WJBC file photo)
By Patrick Baron
BLOOMINGTON – As the Bloomington City Council prepares to vote on a Welcoming City Ordinance, advocacy groups are voicing support and opposition to the resolution.
On Friday, the Keep Families Together Campaign announced the group wouldn’t be supporting the resolution because it “does not take any meaningful action to limit collaboration” between the Bloomington Police Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Over the weekend, Not In Our Town said the group is supportive of the resolution, but would like to see an amendment made to part of the measure. In a news release, Not In Our Town said city employees should only request information on the immigration status of a person “only when such inquiry or investigation is required by statute, ordinance, federal law, or court order or is deemed to be necessary for a criminal investigation.” The amendment goes on to say “the Bloomington Police Department shall not investigate an individual solely for an immigration violation.” The group hopes the council passes the resolution “and then continuing the dialogue for an effective policy.”
The Town of Normal approved its own Welcoming Ordinance in May, which included a “check and balance” on the police department’s cooperation with federal immigration agents. Bloomington Mayor Tari Renner said Bloomington’s resolution isn’t the same as Normal’s because the political environments within the Twin Cities is different.
“It may not go as far as some people want, but it certainly does something, and I think it makes a broader policy statement,” said Renner.
Renner noted amendments can be made to the resolution before the final vote is taken. He added the debate has been a lingering issue for Bloomington and says it’s time to take a vote on the ordinance.
“I certainly hope that we end Monday with something, because I think it really does not speak well for our community if we in 18 months can’t do what Normal did in a few weeks,” Renner said.
Renner said the community “deserves some kind of closure” on the debate.
Patrick Baron can be reached at [email protected].
