A vote on a “welcoming city” ordinance was postponed by the Elgin City Council Wednesday after it became clear the measure would not pass without more information on provisions like the creation of an immigrant legal aid defense fund.
City Manager Rick Kozal told the council that city staff would need 60 more days to provide answers to questions raised by some council members, including how the defense fund and municipal identification programs would work and how much they would cost.
The 5-4 council vote to postpone a decision didn’t sit well with some in the audience, many of whom were there to speak in favor of and show support for the ordinance.
“Explain to us why it’s going to take another 60 days to do the right thing,” one man shouted, prompting others to voice similar comments.
Council members Diana Alfaro and Corey Dixon proposed the ordinance as a means of making it clear the city supports and fosters inclusivity and diversity in the wake of the detention arrests being made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. In addition to creating the defense fund for detained immigrant residents and a voluntary ID program, the measure would provide more language assistance for non-English speakers and codify already-adopted policies.
Similar welcoming city ordinances have been approved by other cities and villages, although Dixon acknowledged that Elgin’s would be the most progressive in the state if approved.
Proposed in December, a draft of the ordinance was written by City Attorney Christopher Beck for review Wednesday night but several council members wanted more specifics on the provisions included.
Alfaro said she knew some council members are not currently in favor of the measure, but she is dedicated to seeing it move forward.
“An ordinance is a legal commitment,” she said. “While policies can be amended, ignored or quietly set aside, an ordinance carries weight.”
Dixon added that he knows the process will take time before it’s something to which all can agree. The same was true when the Black Lives Matter movement emerged in response to police-related shootings and that led to community discussion and the eventual creation of the Elgin Civilian Review Board, which reviews police complaints and makes recommendations to the police chief, he said.
That took years to happen, Dixon said. He doesn’t think the welcoming city ordinance will take that long, he said.
“I’m absolutely committed to making sure we get this done,” Dixon said. “I appreciate (the audience’s) passion. It is not missed by me. I have a job to do. My job is to make sure this thing gets done and gets done right.”
Councilman Anthony Ortiz’s motion directing staff to do more research and come back in June with an update reflected the board’s division on the issue.
Ortiz, fellow council members Rose Martinez, Steve Thoren and Justin Good and Mayor Dave Kaptain voted in favor of the delay. Alfaro and Dixon, joined by council members Tish Powell and John Steffen, voted against it.
In past discussions, Martinez has said she is worried that its approval would make Elgin a target for federal authorities, who could threaten funding for projects.
Elgin attorney Caroline Hernandez, one of the speakers who urged ordinance passage, said her research shows that municipalities that have adopted similar measures have not been adversely affected.
“There has been nothing to report about consequences. If anything, it’s mobilizing support for city governance,” Hernandez said.
Delaying the ordinance’s approval tells the community what Elgin officials actually think of protecting their rights, said Mari Elena, a member of the Resistencia Comunitaria Patrol Team, which responds to calls about ICE detentions to document federal agents’ actions.
“Our immigrant community trusts people. They do not trust institutions. They do not trust that politicians will protect them,” she said. “The lack of action by the city of Elgin has sent a message, intended or not, that they are not valued or welcomed.
“It’s one thing to speak about justice, solidarity or change, but showing up, sharing risk and honoring commitments convinces others those words are real,” said Elena, who doesn’t use her last name for safety reasons.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
