Easton City Council remains divided on a resolution to support immigrants and take a stand against the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration.
The board voted 6-1 Wednesday night to table the two-page document, “Supporting and Protecting Immigrant Communities.” The resolution calls in part to provide a “clear and easily managed pathway” for immigrants in the country illegally to become citizens.
The resolution, which carries no weight, was to head to federal lawmakers and President Donald Trump, who has made immigration one of the priorities of his administration by carrying out mass deportations of people living in the U.S. without authorization.
Council spent much of its meeting debating the proposal, which would update a 2017 resolution by council member Roger Ruggles, with amendments from fellow council member Taiba Sultana.
Sultana, who has been pushing for the resolution since earlier this year, urged council to pass the bill “and prove that we are a city that welcomes people from all walks of life.”
“This is the bare minimum we can do,” added Sultana, who, with Ruggles, are off council after December, having lost primary election contests for their seats.
Sultana’s amendments list three suggestions in which city employees would be prohibited from inquiring about or recording a person’s immigration status unless required by law or court order.
It also would suggest restricting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement agencies, such as sharing personal information, except when mandated by law.
Sultana first proposed the amendments in February; the vote was delayed until August and then swiftly removed for a vote.
“It looks like we have disagreements based on the submitted edits,” said council member Crystal Rose, who made the motion to postpone the vote.
Several residents said they favored council passing the resolution.
“This is the least we can be doing,” Dominic Trabozi said. “Please don’t let me down again.”
But Mark Morawsky said the document seemed like a “knee-jerk reaction” against the Trump administration.
“There’s got to be some limitations and there doesn’t sound like there are any,” he said. “Maybe we put a pause on it.”
Council is expected to take up the resolution once more at its first committee meeting in November.
The Lehigh Valley’s other cities have seen mixed results on establishing new ways to protect immigrants.
Allentown City Council unanimously voted in February to pass a “Welcoming City” ordinance following hours of testimony from supporters. The Allentown ordinance included a provision that would only “suggest” instead of require the city to meet the requirements set by the nonprofit Welcoming America.
Easton’s concept of becoming a Welcoming City was struck down in February by city leaders, including Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and police Chief Carl Scalzo. The same month, Bethlehem City Council declined to vote on its own Welcoming City ordinance, despite a push by activists.
Contact Morning Call reporter Anthony Salamone at asalamone@mcall.com.
Originally Published: October 23, 2025 at 7:33 AM EDT