Letter to the Editor - For Immigrants, Against the Ordinance

Editor's Note: The following letter reflects the personal views of Steven Zittergruen, a member of the Decorah City Council representing the 4th Ward. These thoughts do not necessarily represent the opinions or positions of other council members or the Council as a whole. Editor, A group of area residents have proposed a "Separation Ordinance" to Decorah's City Council that would change police policy and procedure. They have asked for a community conversation on local law enforcement and immigration. They want the Council to consider whether our policing can better represent our values. This kind of conversation should always be welcomed by those in authority. As a member of the City Council, I have a responsibility to our Police Department and to the members of the public who engage with them. Some people I serve end up being transferred to the custody of the Winneshiek County Jail and so what happens there is very important to me as well. Governments are not perfect, of course. As a Christian, I worship someone who was tortured to death by the State. Along the way Jesus told his followers to see his face in the face of the widow, the orphan, and the prisoner. Regardless of religion, all decent people believe that a society's treatment of those in law enforcement custody reflects its character. I believe our Nation is currently failing this test of character. Extrajudicial extraditions to foreign torture prisons should outrage all Americans. To pretend that the country which put people on the Moon can't justly and humanely enforce reasonable immigration laws is beneath contempt. But this discussion is not about national immigration enforcement. This is a local conversation. Our local law enforcement should also reflect well on who we are, and so this conversation motivated me to learn as much as I can about our treatment of people in custody. I met with our City Manager, our Chief of Police, and our Sheriff. I talked to local lawyers who work with criminal defendants. I toured our County Jail and asked many questions of the public servants there. I called our State's Inspector of Jails to find out what he could tell me. I learned from local immigrants about their fears and concerns. I consulted local immigrant advocates who have worked for decades to serve and welcome newcomers. Here's what I learned: our local Police Department and Sheriff's Office strive to uphold the Constitutional Rights and to honor the human dignity of those in custody regardless of immigration status. We don't get everything right, of course. But I don't believe the proposed Separation Ordinance will get us closer to our local goals. And I fear unintended consequences of even the most well-meaning legislation. Our community should steward its law enforcement capacity as well as it can. I will keep working to see that it does so. And I am heartened to know that I have so many great neighbors – law enforcement workers and immigrants, advocates and lawmakers, jailers and judges – hard at work with me. Steven Zittergruen, Decorah City Council, 4th Ward Together, we build a stronger Decorah—contribute your voice by submitting a letter today!