By Howard Packowitz
NORMAL – A welcoming ordinance to be considered by the Normal Town Council Monday night offers what staffers believe is a “check and balance” on the police department’s cooperation with federal immigration agents.
The proposed ordinance is the town government’s response to fears among undocumented immigrants that they’ll be deported as the Trump Administration cracks down on illegal immigration.
Bloomington’s city council has backed off in recent months from approving a welcoming resolution after Police Chief Brendan Heffner warned public safety would be threatened if his department is prevented from working with agents from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
Normal’s ordinance creates a “check and balance” by requiring the town’s police chief or the chief’s designate to approve “collaborating or communicating” with ICE. The chief must weigh the impact on public safety and the risk that working with ICE might negatively impact the immigrant communities’ cooperation with police.
“We are confident that relationships with all residents will strengthen and the NPD’s community policing strategies will continue to foster compassionate, safe neighborhoods,” staffers said in a report to the town council.
The Keep Families Together Campaign endorses the ordinance and plans a rally in Uptown Circle prior to Monday night’s town council meeting.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
