Lenexa council addresses ICE raid and an inquiry into Councilmember Arroyo's citizenship status
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Summary
Councilmember Melanie Arroyo described being the subject of an inquiry about her immigration and naturalization status that the Kansas Bureau of Investigation forwarded to city authorities; Lenexa staff said the city conducted a brief informational review because the city code requires that council members be qualified electors.
Councilmember Melanie Arroyo described an intrusive inquiry into her citizenship status that she said was distressing and requested council support and protections for residents. City staff said the Kansas Bureau of Investigation forwarded a report that questioned whether Arroyo was a qualified elector; the Lenexa Police Department informed Arroyo and conducted a brief informational review and closed the matter after she provided proof of citizenship.
“the reason why this felt uncomfortable was because I was being asked to show my papers,” Councilmember Melanie Arroyo told the council, describing why the outreach from law enforcement felt invasive even though staff characterized the matter as an informational review.
City legal staff said the inquiry was handled because the city code requires that council members be qualified electors (U.S. citizens registered to vote). A city attorney told the council that staff “only investigated this matter because of our city code requirement that a council member be a citizen. We do not otherwise invest immigration status of Lenexa residents.”
At the same meeting councilmembers addressed a separate but related concern: a federal immigration enforcement action (described by some speakers as an ICE raid) occurred in Lenexa the prior week. Several councilmembers praised the Lenexa Police Department for declining to assist federal agents at that operation. Councilmember Chelsea said, “I stand with our immigrant neighbors, and I stand for Lenexa where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.” Councilmember Courtney and others said they were still seeking answers about federal procedures but emphasized local commitment to due process and community safety.
No formal council action on the citizenship inquiry or local policy was recorded at the meeting. Council members and staff said they would continue discussions; the mayor pledged the governing body would review the matter and follow up with staff to prevent similar situations.
The exchange highlighted tensions between local responsibilities under city code, federal investigatory activity, and community concern about the effects of immigration enforcement on residents and local institutions.