Easton has officially passed a resolution that many residents have been waiting for: protection and support for immigrants in the city amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests.
Easton City Council voted unanimously Wednesday night to adopt a resolution supporting and protecting immigrant communities. The measure updates a 2017 proposal introduced by Councilman Roger Ruggles, following earlier discussions this year about a welcoming city ordinance that did not advance.
Councilwoman Taiba Sultana, who pushed for the ordinance, joined the full council and the mayor as co-sponsors of the updated resolution.
Many residents have supported the idea of immigrant protections over the past year, speaking publicly at several meetings.
“Easton has always prided itself on being vibrant, diverse and forward thinking,” resident Ronald Byron Johnson said during public comment. “We talk often about our city, where people come from different backgrounds and come together, whether through business culture, neighborhoods or faith communities. Passing a welcoming resolution is a natural continuation of that identity. It simply puts into writing what many of us already know.”
Though Mayor Sal Panto Jr. was clear that this is not a welcoming city ordinance, Johnson believes Easton still needs this measure.
“The reason we need a welcoming ordinance is simple. An ordinance is structural. An ordinance implements our values. An ordinance actually protects the most vulnerable and at risk,” Johnson said.
He said residents have been patient and attended many meetings explaining why the ordinance is necessary, and that council members repeatedly delayed action.
Panto told the public that a welcoming city ordinance has “a lot of restraints,” which is why council shot it down originally.
“I am all in favor of protecting every person,” Panto said. “I don’t like what ICE is doing. I don’t like what the federal government is doing, but that will be changed, hopefully in the near future. But that’s the great thing about our country. We get to change who we want to lead us.”
The resolution outlines a series of findings about immigrants’ contributions to the nation and to Easton. It highlights the country’s history of welcoming newcomers, the economic and cultural value immigrants bring, and ongoing workforce shortages across multiple industries.
It also notes that limited federal action on immigration has created uncertainty for families and local communities.
One section advises employees not to request, record or access immigration status unless required by law, and not to share such information except when legally mandated or authorized by the individual. It further states that city resources should not be used to assist federal immigration enforcement unless explicitly required.
The resolution expresses the council’s opposition to separating law-abiding families and to actions that unnecessarily disrupt residents’ lives. It urges due-process protections as a core principle.
The resolution supports expanded legal pathways to citizenship. It encourages partnerships that provide legal assistance, workforce development, and English-language learning.
The measure also calls for broader regional dialogue on immigration and workforce needs. It will be sent to federal and state officials, as well as nearby municipal governments, with a request that other councils consider adopting similar resolutions.
An attached appendix lists industries that often rely on immigrant labor and are experiencing significant labor shortages. This includes agriculture, healthcare, hospitality, construction, transportation, manufacturing and technology.
City council will send the resolution to President Donald Trump, U.S. Senators John Fetterman and Dave McCormick, Representative Ryan Mackenzie and 21 city councils. They will urge these city councils to send the resolution to 10 other city councils, pass their own resolution, and send this resolution to at least 10 city councils.
During public comment, resident Mark Rosenzweig said immigrant families in the Lehigh Valley are living with heightened fear due to stepped-up federal enforcement and argued that the city’s previous 2017 resolution lacked clarity.
He said the revised measure offers clearer guidance on how local workers interact with federal authorities and reduces uncertainty for immigrants seeking services.
“Let’s make it plain that Easton won’t be a pipeline feeding our families into federal detention,” Rosenzweig said. “Let us affirm that our city won’t be used as an arm of immigration enforcement. Let us build the kind of trust that strengthens communities rather than fractures them.”