AURORA | A majority of Aurora lawmakers narrowly shot down twin plans to protect immigrants from deportation during an hours-long and emotional city council meeting Monday night.
As in previous study sessions, Mayor Mike Coffman and five lawmakers voted against the plans. One bill would have limited cooperation between local police and immigration authorities, building off an existing policy, and create “safe spaces” for immigrants in city buildings; the other would have created a legal defense fund for indigent immigrants facing deportation hearings in court.
The votes fell after scores of Aurorans split on the issues — and the value of undocumented immigrants themselves — exhorted lawmakers to support or kill the measures.
Jessica, who only gave her first name, called into the virtual meeting and spoke for an American citizen who said their father had been deported, cleaving their family.
“…We experienced that family separation and don’t want people to have to experience the same thing,” the person said.
Other Aurora residents who said they are immigrants affirmed that they contribute to the city’s local economy and cultural fabric — a sentiment firmly rooted in the city’s immigrant integration plan, which Coffman rolled out in December. Mexican immigrants make up Aurora’s biggest share.
Many callers said Monday they live in fear of immigration authorities rounding them up for detention and deportation. It’s a key concern among law enforcement officials in Aurora that ripples through the community, they say.
Councilmember Alison Coombs, who sponsored the twin measures with Councilmember Crystal Murillo, said the first measure would have helped solve that.
The bill would have formally prohibited any Aurora employees, including police and jailers, from using city funds or facilities to cooperate with federal immigration authorities on enforcement actions, such as detaining illegal immigrants.
The law would have codified an existing policy in Aurora that carves out separate spheres for Aurora police officers and federal immigration agents working in city limits. Aurora officers usually don’t support federal immigration operations, and they don’t arrest residents solely for civil immigration-related violations.
But Coombs and other residents said some undocumented people dread a trip to the library, or calling the police to report a crime, because they think they’ll be deported. Coombs said that makes the community less safe.
The second measure would have set up a legal defense fund for immigrants facing deportation court orders. It’s not required that immigrants have legal representation in courts, and studies show that those without a lawyer can fare worse.
While immigrants and supporters voiced their arguments in droves, opponents condemned the proposals.
Several commenters said that immigrants without legal status should endure family separation and the fear of deportation.
“You should not feel safe when you’re not here legally,” one caller told immigrants listening in. Another caller implied that some immigrants are dangerous and violent.
Other opponents had fiscal concerns with the measures. They said that Aurora’s city government had no business assisting immigrants who broke federal immigration laws.
Councilmember Angela Lawson, a typical swing vote who joined opponents, balked at unstated accusations that she was “anti-immigrant” for opposing the measures.
She said her voting records during the last six years on city council disprove that, but she didn’t elaborate. The other four lawmakers who opposed the measures — Dave Gruber, Marsha Berzins, Curtis Gardner and Francoise Bergan — were largely silent during the meeting, as was Coffman.
The votes unfolded as immigrants and their advocates watch President Joe Biden’s swift actions on immigration.
The new president announced last week a 100-day stay on deportations. He directed officials to scrutinize U.S. deportation policies, which ramped up under presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump, and proposed a path to citizenship for undocumented residents that would have to be spearheaded in Congress.
Elsewhere during the meeting, the lawmakers unanimously approved an oil and gas drilling plan revision. Crestone Peak Resources won approval to drill six less wells in east Aurora than previously planned by consolidating wells in certain areas. They won the green light to develop a total of 306 wells.
The move puts one resident about 1,200 feet from a large well pad. That’s below the 2,000 foot setback rule that went into effect statewide this month, but the move was approved because the well pad had already been developed.
If you’re here illegally, then you may be deported. Not that hard to figure out. You can’t selectively follow the laws you believe in and not follow the laws you don’t believe in.
Common sense prevailed for a change.
As usual: ” immigrants and supporters voiced their arguments in droves, opponents condemned the proposals”- “several commenters said that immigrants without legal status should endure family separation and the fear of deportation. “You should not feel safe when you’re not here legally,” one caller told immigrants listening in. Another caller implied that some immigrants are dangerous and violent.” I believe these comments are from those who have never known these folks. Have no idea of how they live and are ignorant about their treatment. They likely don’t want to know. The Council votes? Straight Conservative against and Liberal for….still divided and we’re going nowhere. Even when these folks obtain citizenship, they will still be discriminated against because of the color of their skin…..that! is a fact and That! needs to be changed!
The City of Aurora does NOT have sufficient revenue coming in to adequately provide the core services of fire protection, law enforcement and street maintenance. This is due to a retail economy that has been suffering for decades (sales tax is the city’s primary source of funding).
Every proposal to add to the menu of city services should be put on hold until such time that Aurora gets its retail act together.