About Issue 14
Understand what Sylvania voters are being asked to decide.
Sylvania Resource Conservation and Equal Access Ordinance
What Issue 14 Says
Proposed Ballot Language
Shall the proposed ordinance limiting the use of City resources to assist federal immigration enforcement, except to the extent required by federal or state law, and assuring equal access to all persons to City services, benefits, programs and protections regardless of their immigration status, be adopted?
- YES — To adopt the proposed ordinance
- NO — To reject the proposed ordinance
Official proposed ballot language, reproduced without alteration.
Campaign position
SAFE Sylvania recommends: NO
What Would Issue 14 Do?
The proposed ordinance concerns limitations on the use of City resources to assist federal immigration enforcement, except where required by federal or state law. It also addresses access to City services, benefits, programs and protections regardless of immigration status.
We encourage every voter to read the actual ordinance rather than rely on any summary — including ours.
What Sylvania Can — And Cannot — Control
Federal Responsibility
Federal immigration enforcement decisions
Federal immigration enforcement is conducted by federal authorities. The City cannot prevent federal agencies from operating here.
Local Responsibility
- Local police policies
- Local personnel
- Local equipment
- Local facilities
- Local tax dollars
Keep local decisions focused on local public safety.
Six Key Points
1. Local Leadership Has Already Considered This IssueSylvania City Council voted 6–1 against the legislation.
Sylvania City Council voted 6–1 against the legislation. The Mayor and Police Chief also do not support it.
Their concerns include maintaining clear and effective law-enforcement policies, avoiding unnecessary confusion for police officers, and ensuring the responsible use of community resources.
2. Sylvania Cannot Control Federal Immigration EnforcementFederal immigration enforcement is conducted by federal authorities.
Federal immigration enforcement is conducted by federal authorities.
The City of Sylvania does not control federal immigration enforcement decisions and cannot prevent federal agencies from operating within the community.
Sylvania can have concerns about how federal immigration enforcement is carried out while still maintaining clear and consistent policies for its own Police Department.
What Sylvania does control is how its own personnel, equipment, facilities and local tax dollars are used.
3. Our Police Have a Public-Safety MissionTheir responsibility is protecting Sylvania.
The Sylvania Police Department's responsibilities include protecting residents, protecting guests and visitors, keeping the peace, responding to emergencies, enforcing applicable state and local laws, and providing public safety when other law-enforcement agencies are operating in the community.
These responsibilities are already part of the Police Department's mission, policies and annual budget.
4. There Is No Separate Sylvania Immigration-Enforcement ProgramThere is no special allocation of City resources for federal immigration enforcement.
There is no special allocation of City resources for federal immigration enforcement.
Sylvania police resources are budgeted for public-safety responsibilities regardless of whether officers are interacting with local, county, state or federal law enforcement.
5. Existing Police Policies Provide Clear GuidanceOfficers are trained to follow established policies and procedures.
Sylvania police officers are trained to follow established policies and procedures, use lawful authority and treat people consistently.
Existing Police Department policies provide guidance for how officers respond to situations involving other law-enforcement agencies.
SAFE Sylvania believes there is no need to create unnecessary confusion or conflicting directives for local officers.
6. Cooperation Does Not Mean Surrendering Local ControlCooperation and strong local control can exist at the same time.
Sylvania can cooperate with other law-enforcement agencies when appropriate while maintaining local control over local police policies, personnel, equipment, facilities and local tax dollars.
SAFE Sylvania believes appropriate cooperation among law-enforcement agencies and strong local control can exist at the same time.
Questions About Issue 14?
Questions will be answered here as they come in.
SAFE Sylvania publishes answers only when they can be supported by verified information or source documents. Have a question? Send it to us and we will respond.