MONROE — There is perhaps no more decisive national issue lately than immigration, and that was borne out last Monday in the narrow defeat of a measure by the city council to express support for immigrants here. 

The measure, backers of the idea said, was admittedly symbolic. And that led some in opposition to question the purpose of it being on the meeting agenda.

“We don’t control immigration, so why are we voting on this?” wondered Ald. Richard Thoman, referring to the resolution, seemingly to bolster the spirits of a sizeable local immigrant workforce, largely Hispanic. 

In the end, the council voted down the measure, 5 to 4.

“WHEREAS, recent immigrants contribute significantly to the businesses and business development in the city; most substantially as essential workers within the local dairy and food industries,” the resolution reads, in part. “And WHEREAS, collaboration and trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement is imperative for the safety and well-being of all Monroe residents….”

Ald. Tom Miller cited his informal survey on what constituents said they wanted for his vote against the measure. Still, he said he empathized with the plight of immigrants who make up a sizeable chunk of the local workforce in the cheese, dairy, and other key industries.

“This community, this country was built by immigrants,” he said. “They should not have to live in fear.”

The measure, said supporter Ald. Matt Sheaffer, says: “we hear you, we see you, we support you.”

The nation’s immigration fight hit home recently. In August 2025, a strike occurred at W&W Dairy, after the new owner, Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), implemented the federal E-Verify system to confirm employees’ legal work status. And that led many longtime immigrant workers to fear losing their jobs due to legal status, with some walking off the job to demand severance pay. 

On Monday, Monroe officials asked local law enforcement how it viewed the intersection of community policing and the heavier-handed federal immigration enforcement tactics that have characterized the current era. 

Police Chief Fred Kelley said that while the department has made hate-crime related arrests in the past, they are infrequent and have little to do with national immigration issues in typical day-to-day operations.

“That’s not (our) normal enforcement duty,” he said. “It’s not the duty of the local police, or the sheriff, or the state.”

Some advocated for more discussion on the issue and to better parse language in the resolution, prior to a vote. Attorney Dan Bartholf said it was the council’s prerogative how to handle the language, although he added that in its current form, “it’s a little grayer than I would have liked.”

But a few sought to have the vote go ahead as scheduled; and others cited a desire to avoid another extended debate — such as the council’s recent division over putting fluoride in local drinking water.

“I think we should just vote and be done with it now,” said Ald. Lynne Kleven.