Salem City Council unanimously adopts resolution to reaffirm protections for immigrant residents

The Salem City Council voted unanimously Feb. 12 to adopt a resolution reaffirming the city’s commitment to protect immigrant residents and to limit local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

Councilor King, who sponsored the resolution, said the measure reiterates language originally adopted in the 2017 Sanctuary for Peace ordinance and clarifies local practices: city employees will not ask residents about immigration status in routine service delivery; the city will not provide ICE access to nonpublic areas of city facilities without a judicial warrant; and the city will not share records with ICE without consent or a court order except where state or federal law requires disclosure.

Supporters said the resolution is both a message and the start of a process. Councilor Davis praised the item as more than words, saying councilors intend to review and, where appropriate, strengthen local policies and procedures in collaboration with the police department, schools and community groups. Councilors noted the city organized recent public Q&A sessions with the mayor, police chief and schools superintendent to answer community concerns.

Opponents were not recorded; debate instead focused on implementation details. Several councilors urged that the council revisit technical language in the 2017 ordinance to restore protections that were previously removed and to examine departmental procedures to ensure consistent practice. Councilor Prasniewski, citing his prior experience in the Salem Police Department, emphasized that municipal officers do not enforce federal immigration law and said public-safety personnel have long protected residents regardless of status.

The resolution also asks the City Clerk to send copies to state leaders and urges the state legislature to consider related bills such as the Safe Communities Act and the PROTECT Act. The council adopted the resolution by roll-call vote, with 10 in favor and none opposed.

Next steps: councilors said they will follow up with committee reviews of existing ordinances and departmental practices; no new ordinance was enacted at the meeting.