EASTON, Pa. — A new resolution aimed at supporting and protecting immigrants was tabled Wednesday after heated debate by Easton City Council.
Councilwoman Taiba Sultana’s latest effort to pass some form of legislation addressing the current state of immigration in Easton and the rest of the country sparked plenty of conflict, despite the support of several community members.
Based on Councilman Roger Ruggles’s 2017 resolution — and serving in lieu of a stronger, enforceable ordinance Sultana failed to pass — the newer version, a “Resolution Supporting and Protecting Immigrant Communities,” features endorsements of messaging found toward the conclusion of the legislation.
Ruggles's resolution said:
1. The federal government should recognize the contributions to society of the vast majority of undocumented immigrants.
2. The federal government should develop a clear and easily managed pathway for these undocumented immigrants to become United States citizens in a timely manner.
Sultana's proposed addition was:
3. The federal government should address those immigrants arriving at the borders providing humane living conditions, maintain family unity and provide assistance in determining potential pathways for their entrance into the United States.
The resolution concludes with a request that it be sent to President Donald Trump, U.S. Sens. John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, U.S. Rep. Ryan Mackenzie, and over 20 other city councils.
Ruggles later explained the motivation behind sending it to city councils was to start something of a mailing campaign, hopefully inspiring those councils to adopt a similar resolution and send their messages to federal officials.
'Kind of a unanimous front'
But disagreements began immediately after the resolution was introduced and seconded.
Vice Mayor Ken Brown suggested council should simply readopt Ruggles’s 2017 resolution, giving the current council an opportunity to either agree with or reject the premise.
“I think this speaks to the purpose of what we're trying to say in the city," Brown said. "It worked back then, and I believe that the way it's written, it will work today.”
Questions over the resolution’s sponsorship also came up, with Ruggles listed as the introducer, and the rest of council listed as co-sponsors.
“This is language that we had used many times several years ago, and it just shows unanimous, you know, kind of a unanimous front," Ruggles said.
"The whole purpose of this resolution was to present that front to our legislators at the federal level."
Debate over the language in the bill also arose, though solicitor Joel Scheer said the framing of the resolution was “totally appropriate, if you wish to use that language.”
He especially noted the use of “suggesting” what the federal government should do.
'Not following the law'
Councilman Frank Pintabone told Sultana he felt that her additions to Ruggles’s original text diluted it, rendering it ineffective.
“So I was the one who recommended opening Councilman Ruggles’s resolution, if council agreed,” Pintabone said.
“He did, I made two suggestions very clear that we didn't agree with residents in the city of Easton, undocumented or not, being taken without warrants and just taken and whatever else.
"That's something you send to the to the state or the federal government and say, ‘We don't like what's happening, right? You're not following the rules. You're not following the law. We don't like what's happening.’”Easton Councilman Frank Pintabone
“The second part was, we don't approve of anybody not having their due process. Right? Councilman Ruggles and I think everybody agreed with that.
"That's something you send to the to the state or the federal government and say, ‘We don't like what's happening, right? You're not following the rules. You're not following the law. We don't like what's happening.’”
Sultana countered by stating Pintabone’s suggestions still were part of the resolution, and added she had followed the advice of council in shifting from an ordinance to a resolution.
Late Wednesday, after the meeting, Sultana made a Facebook post calling the vote "a shameful display of politics over people."
'No teeth'
Pintabone responded by stating the resolution does not offer protection of the federal government even if it calls out issues between the city and federal officials.
Sultana eventually said Pintabone was making such points because “undocumented immigrants cannot vote for you.”
Pintabone described Sultana's commentary as "great talking points for your next campaign."
She later said, “you want to make sure you have the vote of all the racists, all the white people.”
“I understand how frustrating it is to see issues in society that need fixing, but you know, I think in some cases, one thing I've learned over the last two years is we have limited jurisdiction,"Easton Councilwoman Crystal Rose
Pintabone pointed out a Welcoming City Ordinance in Allentown has failed to protect immigrants in that city and later characterized Sultana’s resolution as “something that has absolutely no teeth at all.”
“It has all the 32 teeth… if we pass the ordinance, it has all the teeth," Sultana said.
"But we are not passing the ordinance, because many of you suggested a resolution, and now we have a resolution which is merely a statement."
Councilwoman Crystal Rose said that while she could see where Sultana was coming from, their positions limited the ability to act.
“I understand how frustrating it is to see issues in society that need fixing, but you know, I think in some cases, one thing I've learned over the last two years is we have limited jurisdiction," Rose said.
"And have to understand where those boundaries lie. I mean, I'm not a state representative or a senator."
Rose also suggested tabling the matter “because there are disagreements as to what language should and shouldn’t be included in the resolution.”
Community input
A handful of Easton and nearby residents showed up to speak on the resolution, as well, with only one detractor among them.
Dominic Trabosci said that after Sultana shifted from an ordinance to a resolution, “I don’t expect any pushback on something like this."
"The time is now to be acting, while people are getting kidnapped," Trabosci said. "This is the least we can be doing. So please don’t let me down again.”
“Let us choose instead to stand with our neighbors. Let us choose to keep families together.”Resident Luke Umbrecht
Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America member Mark C. Rosenzweig spoke in favor of Sultana’s additions to Ruggles’s original text.
“They make Easton's commitment to immigrants more than symbolic," Rosenzweig said. "They say this city will not participate in the machinery of deportation.
“This is not radical — it's humane, it's practical. That's exactly what a local government can and should do when the federal government fails to step in to defend the people who make our communities live and breathe.
"I urge the council to adopt these whereas is exactly as written.”
Luke Umbrecht said the local economy is dependent on immigrant workers, who “clean our offices, they prep our food, and they build our homes… Their contribution is not invisible.”
“Shame be upon us if we choose fear and cruelty over inclusion and justice," Umbrecht said.
"Shame be upon us if we refuse to hold steadfast in the midst of a wannabe despot claiming overreaching federal control of blue cities like ours, and shame be upon us if we choose what is easy over what is right.
“Let us choose instead to stand with our neighbors. Let us choose to keep families together.”
Palmer resident Mark Morawsky expressed concern that undocumented immigrants would be a weight on society, requiring schooling, housing, and other needs.
But he added that he supported a more streamlined pathway to citizenship.
Easton City Council is set to discuss the resolution again at its November committee meeting.
