Letter shared during Public Input•�1TT�T'�
BUILDING
BRIDGES
May 20, 2026
Mayor Brad Cavanagh; City Council members Tyson Leyendecker, David Resnick, Laura Roussell, Danny Sprank,
Chris Staver and Katy Wethal
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13" St.
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Mayor and Council:
Building Bridges is a coalition of representatives from organizations and Religious communities in the Dubuque area.
We are a local movement to connect the community to act, support, and advocate with immigrants and migrants.
The Public Policy Task Force of Building Bridges has reviewed the City's policies related to the license plate
reader program. Members of the Task Force have discussed the policy and media reports regarding the policy with
City Manager Mike Van Milligan, Police Chief Jeremy Jensen and Assistant City Attorney Jason Lehman.
We understand that, with respect to the City of Dubuque's license plate reader system, "prohibited uses include
immigration enforcement." We appreciate and support that policy. Our immigrant neighbors will remain comfortable
reaching out to and interacting with local law enforcement with that policy in place and implemented.
Building Bridges recommends that the City require that all requests by a federal agency for data or information
from the license plate reader system be forwarded to the City Attorney for review.
We are also aware that situations may emerge that may put the City's policy in conflict with other government entities
and political actors.
We recommend that the Mayor and City Council act to suspend the license plate reader program in the following
circumstances:
1) Information or data is requested by a federal authority to be used for immigration enforcement purposes
and, notwithstanding this policy, the request is fulfilled;
2) If the City of Dubuque is threatened with sanctions of any kind by a state or federal authority for this
policy or the application of this policy.
We thank you for your attention and consideration.
Sincerely,
Mary oothart, chair
c: Mike Van Milligan, Jeremy Jensen, Jason Lehman, Tiberius Mocanu