Less than a week after the U.S. Department of Justice called for an investigation into the Tompkins County sheriff for allegedly not honoring a federal warrant by releasing an undocumented immigrant, the Ithaca Common Council unanimously passed a resolution reaffirming the city’s status as a sanctuary city at its Wednesday meeting.
The DOJ released a press release claiming that Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne did not honor a federal warrant after Jesus Romero-Hernandez was released from the custody of the Tompkins County Jail — where he completed his sentence for third-degree assault charges — before ICE agents could pick him up.
Romero-Hernandez was issued a federal arrest warrant for illegally re-entering the U.S. after a prior removal and was apprehended by agents with ICE-Enforcement and Removal Operations, assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations on Thursday, Jan. 30, two days after his release by Osborne.
In a statement to the Ithaca Times, Osborne explained, “We do not work with [ICE] in any capacity. I can’t think of a time we have even had an interaction with ICE.”
During the council meeting, Mayor Robert Cantelmo announced that he received a memo from the U.S. Office of the Attorney General “threatening to defund” state and local jurisdictions for “unlawfully interfering with federal law enforcement operations.”
Ithaca’s sanctuary city status, first adopted in 2017, limits Ithaca Police Department officers’ cooperation with ICE and protects undocumented immigrants from being asked about their immigration status by city employees, excluding select circumstances. The order has since been updated in 2022 and 2023 to extend these protections to inquiries regarding abortion and gender-affirming care respectively.
Around 20 people spoke out about the city’s sanctuary position during the open comment section, predominantly urging the Common Council members to reaffirm the city’s commitment.
“We are a nation of immigrants, and I refuse to let others twist the stories of those searching for the American Dream in the tales of violent crime,” said Alderperson Patrick Kuehl ’24 (D-Fourth Ward) during the open comment section. “Our power as a local government is ultimately limited. But we can always take a public stand and show the people of Ithaca, those born here and those not, that we stand with them no matter what.”
Cantelmo criticized ICE’s operation in Ithaca as “disproportionate to the scope” of the arrest and said it caused “concern and fear” in the community.
“Our values and our policies have not changed and nor will change in the face of changes at the disposition of the federal government,” Cantelmo said. “We are not now, nor is the desire of this government to become an adjunct of the federal government in executing federal policy.”
Kathryn Cernera, president of the Ithaca Teachers Association, voiced support for the renewal of the city’s sanctuary status, citing concerns from students.
“We have students coming to class terrified that the worst possible scenarios will happen to them, their families and their friends,” Cernera said. “So tonight we are here asking you to vote in favor of reaffirming Ithaca’s sanctuary city status to reaffirm our commitment to protect all members of our community, but especially our young people.”
Zach Winn — who unsuccessfully ran as a Republican for a seat on the Common Council in November 2023 — was the only community member present who pushed back against the city’s sanctuary status at the meeting. He argued the city’s policies were “attracting” people to the area by allowing the settlement of people in informal housing like The Jungle — a patchwork of makeshift encampments behind the city’s retail stores in Ward 1 as early as 1926.
According to an ICE press release, Romero-Hernandez was previously removed six times between July and September 2016. “Was it appropriate for a seven-time criminal illegal alien to be living in The Jungle or walking free in the city?” Winn asked the Council.
Members of the American Civil Liberties Union Chapter at Cornell and the Cornell Anti-Detention Alliance attended the meeting and held signs of support, reading “Immigrants are welcome!” and “Sanctuary for all.” They also submitted a joint written statement to the Common Council as part of the public comment process.
“Immigrants are our neighbors, workers, and community members. Families deserve to stay together and undocumented students deserve to safely receive an education without worrying about ICE presence in their classrooms,” the statement read. “We call for the Ithaca City Council to reaffirm its commitment to protecting and upholding the human rights of immigrants and continue to ensure our community is safe for everyone.”
Alderperson Pierre Saint-Perez J.D. ’24 (D-Third Ward) said that the city has limited power in its sanctuary status — where officials cannot interfere with federal operations — and encouraged members of the community to get involved with local activist groups.
“Going out and helping members of our community who are under attack in ways that they need — that is going to be more of a change than we as a government can likely do; that will change people’s lives,” Saint-Perez said.
The council passed the resolution reaffirming Ithaca’s status as a sanctuary city with unanimous consent.
The council also voted to amend Article I and V of Chapter 300 of the Ithaca City Code — expanding tax exemptions for people with disabilities and low-income individuals over 65 years old — and appointing Prof. Nicholas J. Klein, city and regional planning, to the Tompkins Consolidated Area Transit Board of Directors until Dec. 31, 2027.
Gabriel Muñoz is a member of the class of 2026 at the College of Arts and Science. He serves as city editor for the 143rd editorial board. He previously served as city editor for the 142nd Editorial Board and news editor for the 141st Editorial Board. He can be contacted at gmunoz@cornellsun.com.
