Roeland Park reluctantly amends city ordinance after new state immigration law passed

City council members in Roeland Park reluctantly voted to amend an ordinance to avoid a potential lawsuit during their regular meeting this week. The Protecting Public Safety and Community Resources Act originally said that Roeland Park’s agencies, employees and officers do not typically conduct the work of federal immigration enforcement, with limited exceptions. TOP VIDEOS Top Videos Overland Park police say shooting inquiet neighborhood was murder‑suicide × However HB 2717, which passed the Kansas Legislature this year and will become state law July 1, prohibits any municipality from enacting ordinances that restrict local officials or officers from enforcing immigration law and nullifies any local ordinance that violates the new rule. Now, the ordinance has been amended to comply with state law. If the ordinance continued to contradict state law, it could have subjected Roeland Park to lawsuits and extensive legal fees, City Attorney Steve Mauer said. Mauer said that if they did not change the ordinance, it would allow the attorney general or Johnson County to bring litigation and excessive legal fees that would punish citizens. “It is not an affirmation or agreement with the legislature or the governor, but out of necessity, frankly, to avoid the unnecessary legal expenses on our residents,” Mayor Mike Kelly said. Councilwoman Jan Faidley said she was saddened by the actions of the state legislature and the governor’s reasoning that local governments cannot “fix” immigration policies. “For the record, it was never our intent as a governing body to fix immigration law, but simply to make Roeland Park a safer and more equitable place to live, work and play,” Faidley said. “What is most disturbing for me with the passage of this bill is the lack of effort to learn about the communities that are impacted.” She said that no one should be scared that a family member could be deported if they call the police when they are a victim of or witness a crime. Get unlimited digital access Subscribe now for just $2 for 2 months. Councilman Michael Poppa said the state law is indicative of politicians across the country trying to get a leg up in their political campaigns. “I just want the people that we represent here in Roeland Park, our residents, to know we still value you and you are still safe, and we are only doing this because we are being forced to amend this ordinance,” Poppa said. “I still believe in the original text of the public safety ordinance that was originally passed.” Councilwoman Trisha Brauer encouraged citizens to vote because that is the only way they could potentially change the ordinance back to its original state in the future. “If we don’t change the people in Topeka, you’re going to see more and more of the city’s ability to rule itself be taken away. For God’s sake, get out and vote,” Councilman Tom Madigan said. Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/news/local/article262799023.html#storylink=cpy For more information, please contact us at: http://www.beverlyhillsimmigrationlaw.com/index.html