Aurora council immigration resolution sparks warnings from police chief, draws resident response

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice

Aurora City Council took up immigration enforcement Monday night and approved a resolution criticizing federal actions it described as unlawful and overreaching.

The item arrived late on the agenda. It did not immediately change city policy. But it didn’t fade into the background, either.

Council members pointed to several incidents they said shaped the decision. One involved the death of a Colorado woman during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement operation in Minnesota. Others cited included reported illness concerns at the GEO ICE detention facility in Aurora and a recent arrest involving a parent and child.

In the resolution’s language, council members said both U.S. citizens and immigrants have experienced violations of constitutional and due process rights tied to ICE overreach. The document also states that Aurora stands in solidarity with the Twin Cities and supports their call for ICE to leave the community.

It goes a step further.

The resolution directs city management to begin discussions about limiting cooperation with ICE and affiliated agencies. Those conversations are expected to begin at a Public Safety, Courts, and Civil Service policy committee meeting in February.

Federal authorities have publicly described the Minnesota incident referenced in the resolution as a justified use of force. That determination is not addressed in the council’s language.

Police chief raises public safety concerns

Reaction followed quickly.

Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain responded later that evening, issuing a statement after the vote and addressing the resolution’s potential impact on police work.

Chamberlain said he respects the council’s authority and noted that immigration enforcement and federal partnerships tend to draw sharply different reactions. He cautioned that decisions affecting those partnerships could carry consequences.

Chamberlain framed his concerns around public safety.

“As a public safety and law enforcement professional, I have a duty to prioritize the safety and wellbeing of those I serve above all else,” he said.

He also emphasized that Aurora officers do not enforce federal immigration law and do not hold people solely on civil immigration status. Legal status, he said earlier in the statement, is not part of the department’s public safety mission.

Where the chief lingered was on coordination.

Chamberlain said Aurora officers regularly work alongside local, state, and federal agencies on investigations and accountability. According to him, those working relationships have played a role in reducing crime and strengthening public safety citywide.

Chamberlain stated, “We have and will continue to work closely with our law enforcement partners at the local, state and federal levels to hold those who victimize members of our community accountable for their criminal actions”, explaining that scaling back federal partnerships could make it harder for law enforcement to prevent crime and protect victims.

Residents respond as issue moves to committee

Around the time of the council meeting, a flyer began circulating online and among Aurora residents encouraging engagement on the issue. Titled “Aurora Alert: Why a Sanctuary City Policy Would Harm Aurora,” the document urged residents to contact city council members and participate in public comment.