MONROE — The city’s mayor is not backing down in the face of critics who called for her resignation, after she read her own proclamation in support of immigrant workers Monday — despite the council having narrowly defeated a similar proclamation last month.
“I feel like when we have the cheese factories, and our dairy farms here, and they are working with us in the community, as part of the community, we should show some support for them and some respect,” said Douglas, referring largely to the Hispanic workers who are the backbone of those industries here. “They are hard-working people who come here, just like the immigrants who came here and built Monroe.”
And so the mayor opened the Monday Common Council meeting by reading from her proclamation, followed by applause. Douglas said she did not encourage the support, but was heartened by it nonetheless. After lengthy debate on Nov. 17, the council voted down a proposed “Resolution in Support of Immigrant Communities in Monroe” by a vote of 5 to 4.
“We declare Monroe a community that stands with you, values your contributions, and celebrates the diversity you bring,” said the mayor’s own proclamation.
Douglas said she was “disappointed” by the council vote, which inspired her to write what she views as being from the city’s mayor rather than the council.
“I knew people would be upset but I didn’t think they would call for my resignation,” said Douglas, during a phone interview Thursday. “I just wanted to do what I thought was right.”
She said he cobbled her proclamation together with online research on how other city leaders supported immigrants around the country — and even asked an AI tool for advice on crafting it.
Online, the mayor took a beating for taking her stand.
“When did legal immigrants not have everything she stated?” asked one commenter. “Do we need a proclamation to state everything that someone can do in the City of Monroe?”
Others said it was wrong for Douglas to push her view after the initial debate and vote should have settled the matter. They fear “dictatorship” in the city and urged some type of reversal.
“How can she just go off on her own against the community?” asked another online critic.
Widespread ICE activity like that seen in some areas of the country hasn’t been reported here yet. But in August 2025, there was a strike 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. 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.
