Iowa City to consider ‘sanctuary city’ status

The City Council expects to discuss in the coming months whether Iowa City should become a “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants.

Council members at a work session Monday night said they were interested in adding the issue to their list of pending discussion items. The council did not talk about the issue in detail and council members did not say where they stood on it.

A committee of community members has asked the council to consider passing an ordinance naming Iowa City a sanctuary city.

Sanctuary cities typically offer protection to illegal immigrants, sometimes by not allowing city resources, like the Police Department, to go toward enforcing federal immigration laws.

The council likely won't take up the issue until next year. City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes said she will prepare a legal opinion for the council to consider.