Cities pause leaf-blower bans to protect immigrant workers

(EVANSTON, ILLINOIS) City and county leaders in three communities have paused or reshaped enforcement of local leaf blower bans in 2025, citing worries that code enforcement could place immigrant workers at risk during a period of heightened federal action. Officials in Evanston and Oak Park, Illinois, and Montgomery County, Maryland, moved this month to reduce direct contact between inspectors and landscapers—many of whom are Latino and immigrants—and to limit practices that could lead to racial profiling.

What changed in each jurisdiction

Evanston set the broadest change: a temporary moratorium on enforcing its gas-powered leaf blower ban after reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) targeted landscapers in the area. The pause applies citywide and runs through December 31, 2025. During the moratorium, Evanston will not issue citations under the ban, which the city adopted in 2021 and began enforcing after April 1, 2023. City officials said the pause aims to keep workers safe and reduce fear around reporting ordinance concerns, which could unintentionally expose crews to federal agents.

In neighboring Oak Park, village trustees rejected a full suspension but voted to change who gets cited. Enforcement now targets property owners—not the landscapers on site—when a gas-powered leaf blower is used in violation of the village ban. The village also told staff to stop taking photos of landscapers while investigating complaints. That shift followed reports of ICE activity that stirred fear among Hispanic and immigrant workers. Oak Park’s revised approach began after the October 14, 2025 board meeting and remains in place until further notice.

Montgomery County, Maryland, saw its own storm after a countywide ban took effect on July 1, 2025. The county initially required photographic evidence to prove a violation. Councilmembers soon heard that this rule could scare immigrant and Latino landscapers, invite confrontations, and fuel profiling concerns. In response, the council introduced a fast-track bill to drop the photo rule and allow complaints from at least two witnesses to support a case. The measure is expected to pass and would take effect immediately upon approval, removing a key flashpoint.

Policy changes overview (at a glance)

• Evanston, Illinois
  • Temporary moratorium on enforcement of the gas-powered leaf blower ban through December 31, 2025.
  • No citations under the ban during this period.
  • Pause follows ICE actions near landscaping worksites; focuses on worker safety and reducing fear.
• Oak Park, Illinois
  • Enforcement now issues citations to property owners only, not landscaping crews.
  • Village staff will no longer take photos of workers as part of investigations.
  • Change implemented after the October 14, 2025 board meeting.
• Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Proposed expedited bill would remove the photo evidence requirement.
  • Replacement standard: two-witness complaints can support enforcement.
  • Aims to prevent racial profiling and reduce fear among crews; expected to take effect immediately if passed.

Why officials changed enforcement practices

These local steps come as more cities weigh the balance between environmental goals and harm to workers. Leaf blower bans address noise and air pollution as well as public health. Yet enforcement often lands hardest on the immigrant workforce that powers the landscaping industry.

When federal immigration actions rise, local ticketing processes—especially those that ask for photos of workers—can feel unsafe. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, this overlap between local code rules and federal immigration enforcement can put immigrant workers in the middle and create fear that keeps them from work or from reporting problems.

“Officials said they want to uphold environmental standards without putting immigrant workers at risk.”
The changes aim to reduce direct contact points between enforcement staff and workers and avoid practices that could lead to racial profiling.

Enforcement concerns and immigration context

• The United States has experienced cycles of stepped-up immigration enforcement. When federal actions intensify, local inspections and complaint-driven systems can trigger unintended contact with federal agencies.
• Montgomery County’s move away from photo evidence reacts directly to these concerns: two-witness complaints shift the focus from documenting people to documenting conduct at a property.
• Evanston opted for a broader approach by temporarily pausing enforcement while federal operations are active locally, citing worker confusion and fear that reporting violations could draw attention from federal agents.
• Oak Park’s change protects workers by placing responsibility solely on property owners and removing worker photos from the investigative process.

Community advocates supporting immigrant and refugee families pressed for these shifts. They argue enforcement that singles out crews—often brown or limited-English-speaking—risks racial profiling and deeper mistrust. Environmental and public health advocates emphasize that the long-term benefits of quieter, cleaner equipment remain important. The current compromises aim to protect workers while maintaining the broader policy direction.

Broader implications and potential models

Local shifts are being watched elsewhere. Arlington County, Virginia, and other jurisdictions considering or implementing leaf blower bans are reviewing:
– how complaints are collected,
– who gets cited, and
– what proof is required.

Montgomery County’s attempt to remove the photo requirement may become a model for counties that want to avoid photographing workers while maintaining a workable enforcement system.

While these are local decisions, a link to national policy is clear. DHS has published guidance about where immigration enforcement actions should be limited, known as “protected areas.” That policy stresses safety and access to services but does not govern city code enforcement. Still, it shows how federal and local actions can intersect in public spaces and neighborhoods. Readers can review DHS’s guidance at the Department of Homeland Security’s official page on Protected Areas.

Practical guidance for workers and employers

For workers and employers, the immediate practical changes are clear:

• In Evanston, there will be no citations under the gas-powered leaf blower ban until December 31, 2025.
• In Oak Park, only property owners face tickets for violations; crews should not be photographed by staff during enforcement.
• In Montgomery County, the expected rule change would drop photo evidence and rely on two-witness complaints, once enacted.

Recommended actions:
1. Landscaping companies should brief crews in simple terms about what has changed—and what has not.
2. Emphasize that equipment rules remain on the books even if enforcement is paused or redirected.
3. Property owners should confirm allowed equipment and plan for a shift to electric or manual tools if needed.
4. Use clear job orders and written policies to avoid confusion at the curb.

What this means for immigrant workers

These enforcement adjustments do not erase broader worries among immigrant workers, especially those with mixed-status families. But they reduce direct contact points that can feel risky.

By:
– citing property owners,
– accepting witness complaints, or
– pausing enforcement with a defined end date,

local governments are signaling they want cleaner air and quieter streets without putting workers in harm’s way.

Cities that retain environmental goals while lowering risks for immigrant workers are setting a path others can copy. The details matter: who gets cited, what proof is required, and how complaints are handled can change daily life for crews who maintain lawns and parks. As federal immigration actions ebb and flow, local rules around leaf blower bans will likely keep evolving to reflect both safety concerns and climate goals.

Officials in Evanston, Oak Park, and Montgomery County have said they will keep listening to residents, property owners, and workers as the season turns and complaints rise. For now, the combination of a moratorium, owner-focused ticketing, and witness-based complaints marks a notable shift in how communities enforce these bans while trying to protect immigrant workers.