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 (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 Ordinance amending COPA powers to investigate welcoming-city ordinance violations (Fuentes amendment) (O2025-00204): passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (chair): Called the joint committee on immigrant and refugee rights and police and fire to order. (23:06); Requested a motion to allow virtual attendance for two members under Rule 59. (25:02); Asked co-chair Chris Farro for brief remarks before the vote. (1:09:20)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (vice chair)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Introduced the sole agenda item – the ordinance he sponsored. (23:13); Thanked the chair, inspector general, Deputy Mayor and COPA for their work on the ordinance. (2:17:31); Renewed his motion for a roll-call vote on the ordinance. (2:28:45)
- Jeylú B. Gutiérrez (alderperson): Moved to allow virtual attendance for two members under Rule 59. (25:03); Moved again to allow virtual attendance for Alderman Michael D. Rodriguez. (2:09:46)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Identified himself as a district council member and discussed the CPD-ICE collaboration hearings. (28:37)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson)
- Ronnie L. Mosley (alderperson): Requested a virtual option for committee hearing attendance. (24:54)
- Silvana Tabares (alderperson)
- Angela Clay (alderperson)
- Debra L. Silverstein (alderperson)