Wichita City Council members overwhelmingly opposed a proposed resolution that would prohibit the city from entering any future immigration enforcement agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The heated discussion, attended by hundreds of supporters, took place but no vote was held on whether to advance the measure.
Mayor Lily Wu, along with council members J.V. Johnston, Becky Tuttle and Dalton Glasscock, publicly expressed their opposition. Wu warned that a standing prohibition could draw “unnecessary attention to Wichita,” while Tuttle, representing District 2, said she was unsure the resolution was the right prescription at this time.
The city is not currently pursuing a 287(g) agreement, which would allow local law‑enforcement officers to perform certain immigration‑enforcement functions. Supporters of the resolution argue that codifying the city’s stance in writing would keep the policy consistent for the future.
Community voices were heard during the session. Wichita resident Emira Chavira Chaparro argued that “there is nothing legal about racial profiling or arresting people simply because of the color of their skin or the sound of their accent.” Logan DeMond, policy director for the ACLU of Kansas, said the resolution would send a clear message that Wichita “matters” and will not “go out of its way to do ICE’s dirty work.”
District 1 Councilman Joseph Shepard pledged to keep the issue on the agenda, stating, “My commitment to the community is I’m not stopping.” A majority of council members agreed to move forward with a discussion about holding a town‑hall meeting on the topic.
What’s next: Council members will schedule a public town hall to gather broader community input on the proposed ICE‑agreement ban. Councilman Shepard indicated he will continue to broach the issue in future sessions, ensuring residents remain informed and involved.
