COLUMBUS (AP) — A city councilman says a council discussion this week skirted the real issue in the community: illegal immigration.

Columbus Councilman Joe Held says that’s what he heard during a discussion Monday about occupancy rates in single-family homes.

But any discussion about what the city can do about illegal immigrants was cut off by council President Jim Bulkley and City Attorney Stephen Hansen. They limited discussion to agenda items.

Held says an open discussion on the topic is needed, but he’s not sure if the council has the fortitude to host such a forum.

The Fremont City Council made such an attempt in July. It ultimately defeated a measure that would have banned renting to and hiring illegal immigrants.