GREELEY, Colo. -- City Council members late Tuesday refused to endorse or opposed an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in their city, saying it was beyond their scope of control because it was a federal decision.

"It would be kind of like us giving a resolution to someone and saying, 'We're sick and tired of this high price of gas, so lower it,'" Mayor Tom Selders said after the meeting, which was attended by hundreds of people who were opposed to and who supported a new office. "Why would we do something like that? It would have absolutely no bearing."

The controversy started in October when Weld County commissioners passed a resolution that said in part an ICE office was needed to help lower the crime rate caused by illegal immigrants. The commissioners wanted to entice the ICE office to move from Brush to Greeley.

"If you're here illegally and you commit felonies, maybe they'll be an infinitesimal greater chance that you will be deported if there's an office in Greeley versus an office in Brush," said Weld County commissioner Bill Jerke.

The idea angered Hispanics in Weld County who said such a move could lead to racial profiling and harassment by authorities.

"We're not against crime, we're just against an ICE office being lobbied by local officials," said Sylvia Martinez, a leader of Latinos Unidos, a group that opposes the office.

Those who had been following the issue showed up Tuesday night, thinking that the Greeley City Council would also voice their support of the office.

"Those people shouldn't be in the country in the first place so if they're caught for something else, they should be deported and not have an opportunity to be a repeat offender," said Fort Collins resident Peter O'Neil.

Council members on Tuesday considered a recommendation from the city's Human Relations Commission that called for the rejection of the office. Instead, council members amended the recommendation and passed resolutions to support law enforcement, oppose crime and deal with the racial tensions that appeared during the process.

"They're just not going to touch the subject, and that's what we want," Martinez said.

"The enforcement of all of our laws is of the very highest priority," Selders said.

Council members said they need to look at how all the laws in Greeley are being enforced, including those of immigration. They also say they want to get the representatives from the opposing groups together to discuss how the laws can be enfoced more effectively.

Weld District Attorney Ken Buck, who is lobbying for the office, said he was happy with the council's decision and will advise federal officials. Colorado Rep. Marilyn Musgrave and Sen. Wayne Allard, both Republicans, have written letters in support of the office.

Greeley is not the first time residents in Colorado have opposed an immigration enforcement office. In 1999, opposition from residents in Carbondale, 25 miles northwest of Aspen, prevented an Immigration and Naturalization Service office from opening there.