We, the people and students of La Crosse, demand that the city act to make our community safer for our international students and immigrant communities by signing into law a resolution that no city institution or agency will assist, collaborate, or work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE.

In the wake of increasingly large, intense, and violent raids on cities across the nation, including our fellow midwesterners in Chicago, it is crucial that the city of La Crosse take all actions possible to protect our immigrant communities and international students BEFORE raids and deportations are carried out by ICE! It is not enough to stand idle during this nationwide crisis and wait for the problem to come to us!

In 2017, Mayor Kabat proposed that La Crosse be named a sanctuary city, and the city's Human Rights Commission agreed, but nothing has been done to realize this goal and make our beautiful city a haven for diversity and all those who choose to call it home.

We demand the following steps be taken:

• Prohibit all city officials, agencies, commissions, etc. from releasing any information or documentation on a resident's immigration status;
• Prohibit the police and other city agencies from collaborating or assisting ICE under any circumstance, including for the protection of ICE officers;
• Explicitly codify into that the city will NOT comply with or enforce federal immigration laws;
• Realize Mayor Kabat's suggestion that we become a sanctuary city through real action, and not just talk!

We here in La Crosse need to take action to respect and protect immigrant communities of all backgrounds, not just the German ones that brought us our beer and Oktoberfest! Diversity makes our community richer and stronger.

Keep ICE out of La Crosse!