IOWA CITY — While not showing support for branding their community a “sanctuary city,” Iowa City Council members Tuesday directed their attorney to draft a resolution that — if eventually passed — would ensure no city resources go toward enforcing federal immigration policy except in cases of a public safety threat.

During a work session, council members expressed support for drafting the resolution and asking for advice from University of Iowa law professors. But members demurred on the label.

“I think what is most important is the actual policies that we have in place and the actual implementation of those policies to protect people within this community,” said council member Susan Mims. “And when you start putting labels on things, particularly in this environment, I don’t think it does anybody any good to draw additional attention.”

Mayor Jim Throgmorton said the council put the subject on the discussion agenda after residents asked council members to declare Iowa City a sanctuary.

But that doesn’t mean all residents were on the same side of the issue.

Last week, robocalls from an organization called Priorities for Iowa, run by a former spokesman for Gov. Terry Branstad, went out to residents around the area encouraging them to call City Hall and attend Tuesday’s meeting to voice their opinion.

City Hall subsequently was engulfed with calls, and council members received dozens of emails in opposition.

Some cities across the country have been declaring themselves sanctuaries after President-elect Donald Trump said mass deportation of undocumented immigrants may be in the future. Entities that do not participate in such a roundup, his incoming administration has said, could lose federal grants.

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While there is no formal definition of a sanctuary city, City Attorney Eleanor Dilkes outlined the concept last week in a memo. She wrote that sanctuary cities make efforts to limit cooperation with the federal officials by not asking an individual for his or her immigration status or “not allocating local resources to the enforcement of immigration law.”

The City Council had considered declaring itself a sanctuary city in 2011, but the effort failed.

Dilkes said she is unaware of any current state or federal law that would mandate a city use local resources to enforce federal immigration law. She said, however, the resolution to be developed by her office would include a disclaimer that the city follow its policy as long as it’s in accordance with state and federal law.

Throgmorton said his concern is about the uncertainty of what a new administration may bring on the issue, and tapping into university resources may be a good way to stay informed.

“We need to exercise our discretion as a matter of policy to stand for vulnerable residents, who are by the way, not violent criminals, which many people seem to associate with the sanctuary city idea,” he said.

Several residents stayed until a formal City Council meeting afterward to speak out in support of inclusiveness.

“We will continue to live by the principles that have strengthened our community. We will stand together and reject efforts to divide us, keep families united and continue to raise standards for everyone in our community and invite all people of good will to do the same,” said Mazahir Salih, president of the Center for Worker Justice of Eastern Iowa, which often advocates for immigrants.

Once drafted, the resolution would go to the council for a public vote.

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