The Aurora City Council on the evening of the meeting adopted Resolution 2025-05, a statement of support for immigrant communities in Aurora, with amendments clarifying which federal immigration categories the council was addressing and adding a pledge that the city will not interfere with federal immigration law.

Councilmember Allison Coombs, the resolution sponsor, moved adoption and Councilmember Murillo seconded. After debate and two friendly amendments at the dais, the resolution passed 8-1.

The sponsor framed the measure as a statement of values. Councilmembers who supported it said it was aimed at countering recent rhetoric and calming fear among immigrant residents; opponents raised concerns about scope and whether the council could or should weigh in on federal immigration policy.

Public commenters largely urged passage. Wayne Laws of the Aurora Immigrant Protection Network told the council, “The view that immigrant criminal gangs are overrunning Aurora is simply false,” and asked the council to reclaim a positive narrative about the city’s diversity. Resident Kathy Ebersberger closed public testimony urging, “Please pass the resolution supporting our immigrants.” Jan Wilson, another resident, pressed the council for clarity about police and ICE cooperation, asking, “Will Aurora leadership and police follow the laws prescribing and limiting collaboration with ICE?”

Two friendly amendments were recorded and posted to the meeting record before the final vote. The clerk summarized them as: (1) replacing language in the final whereas clause to say the incoming presidential administration has “created uncertainty about the future of Aurora residents who are in the United States under the Temporary Protected Status program, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or have been placed on humanitarian parole pending adjudication of their asylum claims,” and (2) revising the section titled “Commitment to immigrant communities” to read, “The City of Aurora reaffirms its steadfast support for its immigrants,” and adding that the city “will not interfere with federal immigration law.” Councilmembers accepted those edits as friendly and proceeded to a vote.

Outcome and next steps: the resolution passed by an 8-1 vote and becomes an adopted council position. It is a statement of values and does not, by itself, change city code or create a new ordinance. Several councilmembers said they expected staff to continue outreach through existing programs, including the Office of International and Immigrant Affairs and community partners named during public comment.

Why it matters: Council statements like this are intended to reassure residents and signal the city’s priorities; supporters said the measure responds to a spike in fear among immigrant residents and local organizations. Opponents said federal immigration enforcement is controlled at the national level and that a broad city statement risked creating confusion about practical limits on municipal authority.

Votes at a glance: Motion to adopt Resolution 2025-05 moved by Councilmember Allison Coombs; seconded by Councilmember Murillo. Vote: 8 yes, 1 no; motion passes.

Public testimony: multiple residents and advocates spoke in favor; central themes were fear among immigrant families, economic and cultural contributions of immigrants to Aurora, and requests for clarity about police cooperation with federal immigration authorities.

Documentation: the clerk provided the final amended resolution text in the meeting eScribe record.