Civil Immigration Enforcement Signage

At a glance

• What: Khrystian E. King's August 18, 2026 orders asked the City Manager to install signage stating that city property may not be used for civil immigration enforcement (modeled on signage in Lynn) and to draft an enforcement ordinance, with signage in all appropriate languages.
• Where it stands: resolved. Both were defeated 5-5 on August 18; King's reconsideration requests under Rule 30 on 2026-09-08 were denied.
• Next: no further action recorded.

Positions

• The City Solicitor (Alexandra H. Kalkounis) told Morris A. Bergman that the City Manager's executive order already bars use of city funds and property for civil immigration enforcement, that the city has no clear power to stop federal agents and the sign would only give notice.
• Bergman called the sign a "paper tiger" and said he feared shielding violent offenders.
• Jose A. Rivera questioned spending scarce sign money.
• Mayor Joseph M. Petty said he had visited the Haitian community three weekends running and found people very frightened, and voted yes.
• Robert A. Bilotta and King spoke strongly for the signs.
• David Webb said in public comment that ICE never left Worcester.

Status and next steps

• King sought reconsideration under Rule 30 on 2026-09-08; both requests were denied. No further action recorded.

Discussion time

About 35 minutes across 3 meetings (from transcript timestamps; approximate).

Log

• 2026-10-06 - City Council — Cited by Khrystian E. King in voting against Satya B. Mitra's 'Welcome to Worcester' border signs order: the Council rejected immigration-enforcement signs for lack of money, then supported welcome signs (see Welcome to Worcester Border Signs).
• 2026-09-08 - City Council — Rule 30 reconsideration of the signage/draft-ordinance order denied 5-6 (Bilotta, Fresolo, King, Ojeda, Petty yes). Reconsideration of the multilingual-signage order denied 4-7, then after a reconsideration motion by John P. Fresolo (approved 11-0, he wanted to change his vote) denied again 5-6. Speakers for both: State Senator Robyn Kennedy (a constituent saw the Lynn sign; 'the least we can do'; residents are terrified), Frances Anthes, Randy Feldman, David Webb, Jillian Phillips of the Office of New Americans (the city is seeking Welcoming America certification; ICE vehicles stage at the courthouse; the Protect Act limits federal overreach), and Martha Assefa and Giselle Rivera-Flores. Fred Nathan argued there is no right to come here, only a privilege. Taken after the Council went through 22b.
• 2026-08-18 - City Council — Taken up with its companion order after being held; King amended it to add a locations and cost report; the Solicitor answered Morris A. Bergman; extended debate in which Bergman, Rivera, Petty, Bilotta and King spoke (King and Bergman clashed over the "toothless" and "false correlation" arguments); both orders denied 5-5 (yes: Bilotta, Fresolo, King, Ojeda, Petty; no: Bergman, Mitra, Rivera, Rosen, Toomey).
• 2026-07-21 - City Council — Items 13e and 13f: King held both orders under privilege.