Brownsville Mayor John Cowen Jr. served as one of the moderators at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C., where mayors from across the nation gathered to discuss federal immigration policy and enforcement actions impacting cities nationwide.
Mayor Cowen moderated a session titled “How Cities Are Responding in the Current Immigration Climate.” The session featured updates on pending litigation related to federal immigration executive orders, actions, and policies, and provided an opportunity for mayors to share how federal immigration enforcement is affecting their communities and the measures cities are taking to support immigrant residents.
During the discussion, Mayor Cowen shared the perspective of Brownsville, a border city that operates at the intersection of border policy, economic growth, and community trust. He noted that Brownsville serves as a hub for international trade, aerospace, manufacturing, higher education, and innovation, and emphasized that the city’s future depends on stability, collaboration, and trust.
Mayor Cowen highlighted that Brownsville is currently ranked as the eighth-safest city in the United States. However, he expressed concern over increased enforcement operations by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the region over the past month, including inspections at construction sites, restaurants, hotels, and low-income neighborhoods.
“As a result, these actions have delayed or stopped many construction projects, and there are businesses that cannot find workers for their daily operations,” Mayor Cowen said. “This creates a ripple effect for our economy and will ultimately impact our city’s finances and service levels.”
Mayor Cowen also told conference attendees that ICE enforcement actions have prevented many children from attending school out of fear that their loved ones may be targeted.
“These enforcement operations have had a chilling impact on our regional communities,” Mayor Cowen said. “More importantly, as mayor, I am concerned that community members may not call the police or fire departments out of fear, which fundamentally makes our community less safe.”
Mayor Cowen reiterated that at the local level, the City of Brownsville and the Brownsville Police Department have a separate but equally important responsibility to ensure public safety while maintaining the trust of the community.
“Our police officers do not work alongside ICE in executing immigration arrests on a day-to-day basis. That is not our role,” Mayor Cowen said. “However, as we would work with any federal, state, or local agency, the Brownsville Police Department does, and will, respond to requests for aid or assistance when public safety is involved. This is what we do, and would do, for any other call for service.”
He also emphasized the City’s longstanding commitment to advocating for the safety and growth of all community members. Brownsville continues to work with non-governmental organizations to assist anyone in need, including immigrants seeking the American Dream.
As the national conversation on immigration continues, Mayor Cowen encouraged individuals to follow the law and seek available resources to navigate a proper and legal process to obtain U.S. citizenship. He also stressed the importance of Congress and the current Administration advancing comprehensive immigration reform and expanding pathways and work authorizations for individuals who contribute positively to their communities and to the country.
The discussion underscored the challenges cities face in balancing public safety, economic vitality, and community trust amid evolving federal immigration policies.
