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 on Police and Fire and Committee on Immigrant and Refugee Rights considered an ordinance sponsored by Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes to give the Civilian Office of Police Accountability (COPA) authority to investigate complaints that police department members violated the Welcoming City Ordinance. Twenty public commenters spoke, most in support of the ordinance and some opposed to immigration-related policies, and the chair noted 316 written comments. The chair presented background on the June 4 incident and committee data requests, read a letter of support from the police superintendent, and COPA's interim chief administrator, the Deputy Mayor for Immigrant, Migrant and Refugee Rights and the Inspector General addressed the proposal. Members discussed the committee's own complaint intake form, COPA's capacity, and the absence of a police department representative. After a quorum call, the ordinance passed by voice vote, with several members recorded as exceptions.
Topics: Welcoming City Ordinance, COPA investigative jurisdiction, police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, complaint intake form, police accountability, public comment
Agenda items discussed
- 25:10 Public comment
- 1:08:47 Ordinance amending the powers and duties of the Civilian Office of Police Accountability to include investigating complaints of police violations of the Welcoming City Ordinance: passed
Alderpersons who spoke
- Andre Vasquez Jr. (chair): Said a lack of clarity in the Welcoming City Ordinance on who investigates incidents between ICE and police undermines accountability, and thanked Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes for the ordinance. (1:11:26); Described the June 4 incident at the South Michigan immigration office and the committee's order requiring release of related records and footage. (1:14:32); Said body-worn camera footage showed a responding commander advising federal agents where to park vehicles, which he described as a level of coordination. (1:19:01)
- Chris Taliaferro (chair): Thanked the sponsor for keeping immigration enforcement at the forefront and said he supports the community. (1:09:28); Raised concern that a committee doing intake on police misconduct complaints could create conflicts and asked for a Department of Law opinion. (1:27:44); Said allowing one committee to serve as an intake vehicle could extend that responsibility to every committee, which he considers outside members' role. (1:32:38)
- Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Asked where complaints from the committee's intake form are sent and how many were anonymous. (1:36:59); Said he was disappointed no one from the police department attended. (1:37:24); Asked whether anyone was suspended, put on call back or fired over the June 4 incident. (2:10:15)
- Maria E. Hadden (alderperson): Said alderpersons commonly take complaints and route them to the right agency, and asked the Department of Law to consider that practice in reviewing the intake form. (1:38:14); Said the ordinance is an administrative fix to a gap in enforcing an existing law and urged colleagues to support it regardless of views on immigration enforcement. (2:14:58); Explained that once quorum is established and Rule 59 participation allowed, remote members count toward quorum unless a quorum check is called. (2:32:58)
- Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Said she was concerned about proceeding without the police department present and wants clarity on what police can and cannot do under the law. (1:43:11); Said complaints should be handled by the department commissioner rather than the committee chair, for transparency. (1:44:09); Said federal agents are expected to return and asked how the city is preparing residents to stay safe. (1:44:49)
- Jessica L. Fuentes (alderperson): Said the ordinance fixes an administrative gap so COPA can independently investigate Welcoming City Ordinance violations, and listed people she said were killed by federal agents. (2:17:31); Noted the police superintendent sent a letter supporting the ordinance and asked colleagues to support it. (2:20:29); Said the ordinance is not aimed at all police officers but at those who collaborate with ICE, and is meant to restore trust between residents and police. (2:26:56)
- Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Said he does not condone the federal administration's treatment of people, drawing on 13 years in law enforcement. (2:21:06); Said he could not support the ordinance as written because the police department and its counsel were not present and the Corporation Counsel should review the intake forms. (2:22:55)
- Nicole T. Lee (alderperson): Said police are put in an impossible situation and regretted their absence, but called the ordinance an administrative cleanup that provides accountability. (2:24:16); Said the city could do more to give police clarity so officers are not ordered into violating a city ordinance, and said she would support it. (2:25:52)
Exchanges between members
- 1:09:47 Alderperson Chris Taliaferro thanked his colleague Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes for her leadership on the issue.
- 1:27:44 Alderperson Chris Taliaferro questioned whether the committee chaired by Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. should take intake of police misconduct reports.
- 1:29:01 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. responded that the committee is filling a gap and is open to Department of Law guidance.
- 1:37:24 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato said he joined his colleague from the 25th Ward in being disappointed the police department was not present.
- 1:41:01 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden said she appreciated the point Alderperson Chris Taliaferro made about formal intake.
- 1:41:17 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden said she appreciated Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. point that people need the intake process.
- 1:42:17 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. thanked Alderperson Maria E. Hadden for her framing and compared it to 311 requests.
- 1:44:14 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor told Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. that complaints should be handled by the commissioner rather than the committee chair.
- 1:46:51 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. said he agreed with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor point.
- 2:12:37 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. disagreed with Alderperson Nicholas Sposato comparison of individual crimes to the actions of a federal agency.
- 2:12:54 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato objected to Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. describing deaths as murders before any investigation.
- 2:14:48 Alderperson Maria E. Hadden thanked the chairs and Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes for bringing the ordinance forward.
- 2:20:50 Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes said she would support Alderperson Nicholas Sposato request for a roll call vote.
- 2:24:48 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee agreed with Alderperson Maria E. Hadden point that the ordinance is an administrative cleanup.
- 2:26:29 Alderperson Nicole T. Lee thanked her colleague Alderperson Jessica L. Fuentes for her work on the ordinance.