SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

December 18, 2025

12-19-25

Rod Sullivan Statement on Fourth Amendment Resolution Vote

I read this at the 12-18-25 meeting of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors before casting my vote on the matter. Video is available on the Johnson County website. The vote failed 3-2, with Green, Green-Douglass, and myself in opposition.

It is important that we begin this conversation with an acknowledgement that the things happening to immigrants right now in this country are often illegal and almost always morally repugnant.

President Trump and the Republicans who enable him have engaged in a war of terror on immigrants. Governor Reynolds and the Republicans who enable her have done the same. I truly believe that their actions have been cruel, stupid, and yes, evil. I know evil is a loaded word, and I use it very purposefully.

I am a person of faith. If I am correct, and there is, in fact, a God – I think she will judge these folks harshly. I pray for their mortal souls.

We all agree what is happening is wrong. So what to do about it? We are told what municipalities in California, New York, and other locations have done. But according to our attorneys, Iowa law is different.

The City of Iowa City decided not to pursue this same resolution after their attorney explained why he thought pieces would be legally problematic. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors has received similar advice from our attorneys. They have serious concerns about the criminal and civil liability of county employees if this passes. I do not want to subject our employees to this. There are also concerns that our insurance carrier will not cover anything that arises from this resolution.

In addition, we know that the immigrant community is split. I would like to read into the record a letter we received from Mazahir Salih, a member of the Iowa City Council, Executive Director of the Immigrant Welcome Network, and an immigrant herself.

Dear Chair Green and Members of the Board of Supervisors,

Thank you for your continued work and care in reviewing the proposed resolution regarding workplace entry and constitutional protections. I am writing to share concerns based on direct conversations with immigrant community members and my own lived experience as an immigrant.

I want to emphasize that the immigrant community in Johnson County is diverse and includes undocumented and mixed-status families from Sudan, other African countries, the Middle East, Latin America, and many other regions. Many of these community members have shared that, in the current and rapidly changing federal immigration policy environment, they do not feel safe with public actions that draw attention to immigration enforcement, even when those actions are well-intentioned and legally careful.

I also want to be transparent that the volume of public advocacy and emails being received does not reflect the full immigrant community. Much of the visible support is coming from residents who do not personally face immigration enforcement and therefore do not carry the same level of risk. Loud advocacy can unintentionally overshadow quieter, more vulnerable communities whose safety depends on staying out of the spotlight.

It is also important to note that many immigrants are not aware that this resolution is under consideration. Public advocacy, emails, and testimony do not reflect the full range of immigrant voices, particularly those who face the greatest risk. Silence should not be interpreted as agreement; in many cases, it reflects fear of public records, increased visibility, and potential consequences.

As you consider next steps, I respectfully ask that the following principles guide your decision-making:

Do not confuse loud advocacy with community consent.
Do not ask immigrants, including undocumented people, to bear the cost of symbolism.
Do not escalate visibility when quiet protections are available.
Do not let the comfort of those who feel safe outweigh the fear experienced by immigrants.

I want to be clear about what I support. I support Fourth Amendment protections for all residents. I support Know Your Rights education delivered in safe, community-based ways. I support workplace safety and non-retaliation protections. And I support quiet, administrative implementation that protects people without drawing unnecessary attention.

Specific request:
I respectfully ask the Board to delay the vote on this resolution and, in the interim, pursue administrative actions that can implement these protections without a public resolution. If the Board believes it is important to hear directly from those most affected, particularly immigrants, including undocumented and mixed-status residents who are currently unaware of this proposal, I ask that the vote be delayed until January. This would allow time for thoughtful, safe education of the broader immigrant community and provide space for informed input, without placing people at risk through public processes and permanent records.

December is a difficult time for meaningful community engagement. Many families are focused on work, travel, or holiday preparations, which further limits participation—especially among those who already face barriers to being public.

This request is not about opposition. It is about ensuring that decisions with real safety implications are made with informed, inclusive, and equitable community input, and in a way that minimizes unintended harm.

Thank you for your time, leadership, and thoughtful consideration.

Sincerely,
Mazahir Salih

I take the concerns of every person in Johnson County seriously. I spent literally hundreds of hours working with Mazahir and other immigrants from the inception of the Center for Worker Justice through its closing earlier this year. She has earned my trust on this issue.

I have heard a number of people say they do not want to see a “symbolic” gesture. Frankly, I think symbolic gestures have gotten a bad rap. They are too often associated with weakness, and underappreciated for the good they can do.

Our colleague Jon Green made a symbolic move back in mid-September when he declined to lower the flags following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Did that decision provide housing for the homeless? Food for the hungry? No. It simply provided a bit of symbolic support to people who felt wronged. And that is OK.

Look at the other side of the coin. Is the guy who killed Kirk a hero? He took bold action, you have to give him that! I don’t think he is a hero. I think he is aa asshole and a coward, who took something that was not his to take.

So is bolder always better? No, not always. Sometimes it is reckless. Running into a fight with guns blazing does not always equate to courage. Sometimes courage means doing the right thing even when a roomful of people wants you to do something else.

I am voting no on the Eschucha Mi Vos proposal.

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SULLIVAN'S SALVOS

December 18, 2025

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