Concerned immigrants and their advocates came before the Aurora City Council on Monday night to urge the city not to shed its sanctuary status — a status city leaders argue doesn’t even apply to Aurora.

Resident Maria Guerrero told the council that many members of Aurora’s racially diverse community are scared by what they see in the news, as President Donald Trump continues to take a hard line approach to illegal immigration.

“They are scared of being detained based on how they look,” she said.

Monday’s discussion comes as the Trump administration threatens to withhold federal funds from communities that do not cooperate with immigration authorities. Aurora took in about $11.5 million in federal funds in 2015.

There is no legal definition of “sanctuary city” and Aurora insists the label does not apply to it. Mayor Steve Hogan told the audience that the city’s policies haven’t changed since the new administration came into office in January.

The city doesn’t obstruct Immigration and Customs Enforcement from doing its job, but it doesn’t enforce federal law on behalf of the agency either.

“It’s not up to us to tell ICE we’re holding someone they may be interested in,” he said.

Councilman Brad Pierce said the city fingerprints anyone who is arrested and shares that data with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, as is common practice statewide. What CBI does with that information is not in Aurora’s control, he said.

“Everyone is treated the same when it comes to being arrested,” he said.

Councilwoman Angela Lawson defended herself against criticism after proposing a resolution last month that would clarify that Aurora is not a sanctuary city — yet welcomes all. She said the federal grants Aurora receives are critical to the city’s financial health and that those calling her anti-immigrant are being unfair.

Monday’s meeting follows a study session held by the council last week in which Police Chief Nick Metz said his officers do not act as federal immigration agents. City attorney Mike Hyman explained to the council that, according to the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the federal government cannot compel local jurisdictions to enforce immigration law.

Aurora has one of the most diverse populations in Colorado, with a larger percentage of foreign-born residents — 20 percent of its population of 345,000 — than Denver.