OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Committee of the Whole on Federal Immigration Enforcement Legislation - March 10, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, March 10, 2026
BodyToledo, Ohio
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, March 10, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:20:49

Transcript — Verbatim
0:20

Good evening.

0:21

Welcome.

0:22

Welcome to Toledo City Council.

0:24

I am Council President Van East Williams, and this is our committee of the hoe.

0:28

We're here to discuss immigration enforcement legislation.

0:32

I would like to give a few housekeeping items before we start.

0:36

Councilmember Gaddis will present items before this body.

0:40

Then we will go to questions and comments from city council members first, then to the public.

0:48

Please sign in if you would like to speak.

0:51

There's a sign-in sheet over here on the table to my right.

0:55

It will be the audience left.

0:58

If and when you do speak, please state your name.

1:02

You'll come up to the podium and address.

1:05

So your name and address for our records.

1:08

Everything is recorded.

1:10

You will be given three minutes and no longer asked to keep the meeting moving.

1:15

While in chambers, please hold applause, yelling, and all things may obstruct the meeting from moving forward.

1:22

We appreciate everyone being here attending the committee of the whole with Toledo City Council.

1:27

And now I want to turn this meeting over to Councilmember Gaddis.

1:31

I got her.

1:32

Oh, I'm sorry.

1:34

We're gonna do roll call for Committee of the Home.

1:37

Hobbs, Jones, here.

1:41

Comives here.

1:42

Kramer here.

1:44

Martinez, present.

1:46

McPherson here.

1:48

Meldon, Morris here.

1:51

Saranto.

1:52

Williams here.

1:53

Driscoll here.

1:55

Gaddis.

1:56

Here.

1:56

Quorum present.

1:58

Now I'll turn this over to Councilmember Gaddis.

2:01

Thank you.

2:02

I want to start tonight by thanking my colleagues, our community partners, the advocates and residents for taking time to participate in this very important discussion.

2:12

I appreciate our conversations, your written testimony, and I look forward to hearing more today.

2:18

Fear is not public safety.

2:20

Trust is.

2:22

It is the responsibility of local government to ensure that every resident in our community feels safe and protected under the law.

2:30

Across the country, we've seen and heard reports of ICE enforcement actions that extend beyond reasonable limits.

2:38

These actions create fear in our schools, hospitals, workplaces, houses of worship, and neighborhoods.

2:46

While Toledo has not experienced a surge like Columbus, we want to proactively work together to establish guidelines for our resources and codify existing policies.

2:59

Tonight it is our duty to present proposed legislation, listen carefully to our residents, and find a balance between our legal obligations and our moral duties to protect our community.

3:15

Before I start with the PowerPoint, uh is there anyone who's also co-sponsoring that would like to say anything?

3:28

Okay.

3:43

So far we have two resolutions and two ordinances with a possible third walk-on ordinance, which we will get to.

3:53

The first resolution is urging constitutional conduct during federal immigration enforcement.

4:00

And this means that we are urging federal immigration enforcement agencies that are operating in Toledo to conduct civil immigration activities in accordance with the U.S.

4:14

Constitution and the standards of transparency, accountability, and public safety.

4:21

It recommends that our federal agents visibly display identification, avoid non-medical face covering, receive full law enforcement training, and interact with residents respectfully while refraining from excessive force.

4:42

This resolution also calls for clearly marked vehicles and compliance with local laws and city expectations to maintain public trust and community safety.

5:00

The second resolution that is in the package is sending text amendments establishing special use permit requirements for detention facilities to the Toledo City Plan Commission for study and review.

5:15

This resolution directs the Toledo City Plan Commission to review proposed amendments to the Toledo Municipal Code for land use regulations by defining detention facilities and requiring any new expanded or modified detention facility to obtain a special use permit before operating.

5:39

The proposed text amendment would establish standards ensuring facilities meet health, safety, building, and legal compliance requirements.

5:53

It would demonstrate adequate space for detainees.

5:57

The measure is intended to provide oversight and clarity regarding detention facility placement while addressing health, safety, and operational impacts.

6:25

This ordinance creates new municipal offenses aimed at protecting schools, child care centers, students, and educators.

6:36

It prohibits physically obstructing or impeding access to educational facilities, engaging in disorderly or threatening conduct near schools, and actions that take place.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Immigration Policy█████████████████████████████████████████████64%
Public Safety████████11%
Community Engagement███████10%
Economic Development█████7%
Procedural█2%
Parks and Recreation█2%
Education And Youth Programs█2%
Privacy Rights█1%
Arts And Culture█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Committee of the Whole on Federal Immigration Enforcement Legislation - March 10, 2026

The Toledo City Council Committee of the Whole met on Tuesday, March 10, 2026 at 4:00 PM in City Council Chambers to discuss and receive public testimony on proposed legislation related to federal immigration enforcement. Council President Van East Williams presided. The meeting included presentations by Councilmember Theresa Gadus on five proposed pieces of legislation (two resolutions, two ordinances, and a possible walk-on ordinance), statements from multiple council members expressing support, and public comment from 16 individuals and three additional speakers. No votes were taken; the meeting was focused on discussion and community input.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Enrique Garcia (representing APS, a group of 25 community leaders) expressed support, stating that the community fears government overreach and urged council to pass legislation protecting constitutional rights.
  • Alex (first-generation daughter of immigrants, community leader) expressed support, noting that families are afraid to leave their homes and that diversity strengthens the community.
  • Valentine (first-generation Mexican American) expressed support, sharing a personal story of cross-cultural friendship and urging passage of the legislation.
  • Jessica Molina (representing the Farm Labor Organizing Committee, FLOC) expressed support, stating that public safety only works when people feel safe calling 911, and urged passage to rein in indiscriminate ICE raids.
  • Rebecca Bundy (immigration attorney at ABLE) expressed support, describing systemic cruelty in immigration enforcement and urging council to draw a line to protect community safety.
  • Brittany Ford provided local economic data: over 10,000 foreign-born residents (3.7% of population), immigrant population increased 12.5% from 2012-2017 offsetting local population loss, $200.9 million earned in 2017 with $30.3 million in federal taxes and $19.4 million in state/local taxes, and immigrants represent 4.6% of workforce and nearly 10% of STEM workers.
  • Rebecca Silver (72-year-old lifelong Toledo resident) expressed support for the proactive stance, referencing the book "On Tyranny" and urging passage.
  • Rachel Davis expressed support, noting she has immigrant family and arguing that ICE should not use city resources; also questioned why job creators hiring undocumented workers are not targeted.
  • Marcia Roby expressed support for legal immigration but raised concerns about illegal immigration, stating that local law enforcement should assist ICE with lawful duties to prevent incidents like those in Minneapolis.
  • Glenn Ryan expressed support for the legislation, citing unconstitutional acts by ICE (e.g., murders of citizens, arrests of protesters, deplorable detention conditions) and asking what local government can do when the federal government breaks its own laws.
  • Susan Keene (co-chair of Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition) thanked council and suggested additions: prohibit by law non-medical face coverings for ICE/TPD, prohibit Toledo police from complying with ICE detainer requests even with judicial order, and a mayoral executive order to arrest ICE agents who cause death of residents.
  • Terry Lodge (attorney, Northwest Ohio Peace Coalition) commended the package but noted issues: proposed section 11502D should say "judicial warrant" not just "warrant"; city parks are not explicitly mentioned as protected properties; and suggested adding national detention standards to zoning conditions.
  • Harold Mosley expressed support, emphasizing the importance of partnering with local law enforcement and proactivity.
  • Cindy Matthews expressed support, criticizing the government for not arresting high-profile criminals while targeting immigrants.
  • Paul Redrup expressed support but raised concern that the education-related ordinance is extraordinarily broad and could inadvertently affect the communities it aims to protect, potentially expanding the police state.
  • Three additional speakers (name not fully captured) expressed support: one indigenous Mexican person urged unanimous yes vote, one speaker shared experience with Toledo Sister Cities and hosting immigrants from war-torn countries, and one (Angelina, first-generation Mexican American college graduate) expressed emotional thanks and asked how to help.

Discussion Items

  • Councilmember Theresa Gadus (lead sponsor) presented the legislative package: 1) Resolution urging constitutional conduct by federal immigration enforcement (visible ID, no non-medical face coverings, training, marked vehicles). 2) Resolution sending text amendments to City Plan Commission requiring special use permits for detention facilities. 3) Ordinance creating new municipal offenses to protect schools, child care centers, and educators (obstruction, disorderly conduct, harassment). 4) Ordinance codifying city resource policies (prohibiting denial of services based on immigration status, limiting information sharing, restricting use of city funds for civil enforcement, requiring council approval for 287(g) agreements). 5) Possible walk-on ordinance regulating disclosure of biometric data by businesses.
  • Councilmember Nick Komives expressed support, stating the city does not have an immigration-related crime problem and that using city resources for federal immigration enforcement is unnecessary and morally wrong; emphasized resource allocation.
  • Councilmember Adam Martinez expressed support, noting his past experience with similar legislation in Arizona and praising the diverse council; stated immigrant populations are key to neighborhood revitalization and that the city can set its own rules for federal operations.
  • Councilmember Mac Driscoll expressed support, noting close work with Toledo Police Department to ensure the ordinance does not hinder public safety while providing teeth for immigration enforcement.
  • Councilmember Erin Kramer expressed support, acknowledging that some are afraid to attend and that the legislation is both reactive and proactive; referenced events in Minneapolis and Columbus.
  • Councilmember Brittany Jones expressed support, describing the legislation as proactive and reaffirming the city's commitment to protecting all residents.
  • Councilmember Cerssandra McPherson expressed support, emphasizing the value of diversity and the importance of listening before a tragedy occurs.
  • Councilmember Sam Melden expressed support, referencing the book "On Tyranny" and the concept of not obeying in advance; characterized the conversation as reflective.
  • Councilmember Theresa Morris expressed support, sharing her 27 years of federal immigration experience and recounting a 2018 ICE raid in Castelli, Ohio; urged comprehensive immigration reform and condemned fear-mongering.

Key Outcomes

  • No votes were taken at this Committee of the Whole meeting. The purpose was to present the proposed legislation and gather public input.
  • Council members indicated strong support for moving the package forward, with several noting continued work with the law department and administration to refine language (e.g., addressing concerns raised about the education ordinance and park protections).
  • The meeting concluded with Council President Williams adjourning, stating the importance of community engagement on all topics.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening. Welcome. Welcome to Toledo City Council. I am Council President Van East Williams, and this is our committee of the hoe. We're here to discuss immigration enforcement legislation. I would like to give a few housekeeping items before we start. Councilmember Gaddis will present items before this body. Then we will go to questions and comments from city council members first, then to the public. Please sign in if you would like to speak. There's a sign-in sheet over here on the table to my right. It will be the audience left. If and when you do speak, please state your name. You'll come up to the podium and address. So your name and address for our records. Everything is recorded. You will be given three minutes and no longer asked to keep the meeting moving. While in chambers, please hold applause, yelling, and all things may obstruct the meeting from moving forward. We appreciate everyone being here attending the committee of the whole with Toledo City Council. And now I want to turn this meeting over to Councilmember Gaddis. I got her. Oh, I'm sorry. We're gonna do roll call for Committee of the Home. Hobbs, Jones, here. Comives here. Kramer here. Martinez, present. McPherson here. Meldon, Morris here. Saranto. Williams here. Driscoll here. Gaddis. Here. Quorum present. Now I'll turn this over to Councilmember Gaddis. Thank you. I want to start tonight by thanking my colleagues, our community partners, the advocates and residents for taking time to participate in this very important discussion. I appreciate our conversations, your written testimony, and I look forward to hearing more today. Fear is not public safety. Trust is. It is the responsibility of local government to ensure that every resident in our community feels safe and protected under the law. Across the country, we've seen and heard reports of ICE enforcement actions that extend beyond reasonable limits. These actions create fear in our schools, hospitals, workplaces, houses of worship, and neighborhoods. While Toledo has not experienced a surge like Columbus, we want to proactively work together to establish guidelines for our resources and codify existing policies. Tonight it is our duty to present proposed legislation, listen carefully to our residents, and find a balance between our legal obligations and our moral duties to protect our community. Before I start with the PowerPoint, uh is there anyone who's also co-sponsoring that would like to say anything? Okay. So far we have two resolutions and two ordinances with a possible third walk-on ordinance, which we will get to. The first resolution is urging constitutional conduct during federal immigration enforcement. And this means that we are urging federal immigration enforcement agencies that are operating in Toledo to conduct civil immigration activities in accordance with the U.S.

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