# Joint Committee: Police and Fire; Immigrant and Refugee Rights meeting, January 27, 2026

- When: Tue, Jan 27, 2026, 1:00 PM (Chicago time)
- Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
- Status: Scheduled & Published
- Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928494?video=1156605301
- Transcript: [full text](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/transcripts/1156605301.txt) (20,910 words, automatic captions)

## Meeting notes

> AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The joint committee heard a single ordinance sponsored by Alderman Jessica L. Fuentes to amend the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) so it can investigate violations of the welcoming-city ordinance by Chicago Police Department officers. After extensive public comment and presentations, the committee voted by voice and the amendment passed. The meeting also included a discussion of procedural rules for virtual attendance and a review of recent ICE-CPD incidents.

Topics: Fuentes amendment to COPA jurisdiction, ICE and CPD cooperation incidents, Public comment on immigrant rights and public safety, Committee procedural matters (Rule 59 virtual attendance)

### Agenda items discussed

- [1:08:52](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=4132) Ordinance amending COPA powers to investigate welcoming-city ordinance violations (Fuentes amendment) (O2025-00204): passed

### Alderpersons who spoke

- [Andre Vasquez Jr.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/40) (chair): Called the joint committee on immigrant and refugee rights and police and fire to order. ([23:06](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=1386)); Requested a motion to allow virtual attendance for two members under Rule 59. ([25:02](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=1502)); Asked co-chair Chris Farro for brief remarks before the vote. ([1:09:20](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=4160))
- [Jeanette B. Taylor](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/20) (vice chair)
- [Jessica L. Fuentes](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/26) (alderperson): Introduced the sole agenda item – the ordinance he sponsored. ([23:13](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=1393)); Thanked the chair, inspector general, Deputy Mayor and COPA for their work on the ordinance. ([2:17:31](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=8251)); Renewed his motion for a roll-call vote on the ordinance. ([2:28:45](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=8925))
- [Jeylú B. Gutiérrez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/14) (alderperson): Moved to allow virtual attendance for two members under Rule 59. ([25:03](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=1503)); Moved again to allow virtual attendance for Alderman Michael D. Rodriguez. ([2:09:46](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=7786))
- [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (alderperson): Identified himself as a district council member and discussed the CPD-ICE collaboration hearings. ([28:37](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=1717))
- [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (alderperson)
- [Ronnie L. Mosley](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/21) (alderperson): Requested a virtual option for committee hearing attendance. ([24:54](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41?t=1494))
- [Silvana Tabares](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/23) (alderperson)
- [Angela Clay](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/46) (alderperson)
- [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) (alderperson)

## Documents

- [Notice](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/3bea682b-749a-490d-8b51-e7dcb54b9189.pdf)
- [Agenda](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/4f381578-85de-437b-b953-036e3e58e46a.pdf)
- [Summary](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/meetingattachmentspublic/ea5af31a-979f-4c35-af15-222ba117dd0e.pdf)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/80E7988D-89F0-F011-8406-001DD8080B41 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt