CINCINNATI — Cincinnati City Council voted to approve two motions aimed at prohibiting federal immigration agents from using city technology and property for immigration enforcement Wednesday.
The vote came after Councilman Anna Albi presented the motions during the city's Youth and Human Services meeting Tuesday.
"The City of Cincinnati is here to protect our residents," Albi said. "All of them."
The first motion prohibits sharing real-time, city-owned surveillance technology with third parties for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement unless mandated by law, a court order or a judicial warrant. That includes technology such as cameras, license plate readers and drones.
The second motion prohibits any city-owned property from being used for federal immigration enforcement unless federal officials have obtained a valid court order or judicial warrant.
WATCH: We spoke to Albi about why city leaders are considering both motions
Albi said that includes places like parks, buildings and parking lots.
"We are trying to be responsive and proactive and really make it clear what the rules of the road are in Cincinnati," Albi said.
Albi said the goal of each motion is not to make things harder on immigration agents. Rather, she said it is to ensure things are done by the book.
"If ICE is doing their jobs and following the law, then this allows for that, right?" Albi said. "Both of these motions have in their language around unless it's mandated by law, a court order or a judicial warrant."
She said city leaders have heard concerns from immigrant residents regarding immigration enforcement.
Albi said it is the responsibility of city leaders to ensure every resident is protected.
"What we are trying to do here is make sure we are protecting our most vulnerable residents," Albi said.
It's not the first time city leaders have filed motions related to immigration enforcement.
In January, city council unanimously passed a motion urging ICE to comply with city policy by wearing body cameras, clear officer identification and not wearing masks.
Last week, Cincinnati's Budget, Finance and Governance Committee voted to give $210,000 to the Immigration and Refugee Law Center.
“We are really just trying to clarify how we want anyone interacting in our city to conduct themselves and how our city resources are supposed to be used for our city purposes," Albi said.
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Albi said it's unclear whether immigration enforcement agents would adhere to rules set in place by the city.
During Tuesday's meeting, Councilman Ryan James also introduced a motion for the city to identify departments or programs that ask for citizenship or naturalization status during interactions with residents.
The motion asks for a report to be delivered to city council within 90 days.
"That information presents a risk to our residents," James said. "I do not think we should be inquiring about it."
Councilman Scotty Johnson was the only "no" vote Wednesday.
We reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment on the proposed motions.
A spokesperson responded, in part:
“This will make Cincinnati less safe. 7 of the top 10 safest cities in the United States cooperate with ICE. Instead of working with us, these members of the Cincinnati city council are choosing to protect criminal illegal aliens so they can perpetrate more crimes and create more victims. This is legally illiterate. Enforcing federal immigration laws is a clear federal responsibility under Article I, Article II and the Supremacy Clause.
While Cincinnati sanctuary politicians continue to release pedophiles, rapists, gang members, and murderers onto the streets, our brave law enforcement will continue to risk their lives to arrest these heinous criminals and make Cincinnati safe again.
How does this serve the people of Cincinnati? The biggest losers are the people these politicians were elected to serve."
