By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington aldermen remained silent at their council meeting Monday night about an ordinance Mayor Tari Renner took off the agenda that sought to calm fears that local police would work to deport undocumented immigrants.

The Keep Families Together Campaign staged a rally attracting about 40 people outside City Hall. Most of the advocacy groups didn’t like the compromise resolution, believing it didn’t do enough to restrict the police department’s dealings with federal immigration agents.

“They keep on putting off the decision, while everyday people are deciding whether to come forward and talk to the police if they’re victims of crime, or to stay in the shadows and stay silent,” said Charlotte Alvarez, executive director and staff attorney for the Immigration Project.

“We need the police chief to be an ally of the immigrant community, and we need the city council and the mayor to clearly state through a welcoming city ordinance that we will welcome everyone, that we are not part of the national deportation machine,” Alvarez said.

The mayor directed Chief Clay Wheeler to develop policies on interactions with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

“They have reason to be concerned, and especially what they see on the national landscape. So, if we can provide them with some comfort by helping explain that in policy, then I think we can work with the community,” Wheeler said.

The recently-installed chief said he can’t recall working on any immigration cases during his more than 27 years with BPD.

“At some level, there has to be trust in your elected officials or your police department, your administration at your police department that they’re trying to do the right thing,” said Wheeler. That’s the only thing I can tell you is the police department is going to try to do the right thing under my leadership,” Wheeler also said.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]