Candidates say Salem police should not act as federal immigration enforcement

At a Salem Chamber of Commerce–hosted candidate forum, all candidates running for councilor at large said Salem’s police should not act as federal immigration-enforcement agents and emphasized the importance of community trust and clarity about local policy.

Candidates said the Salem Police Department’s role is public safety, not enforcing federal immigration law. “The local police department does not enforce federal law, which means anything to do with immigration has nothing to do with the Salem Police Department’s business,” said Conrad Brosniewski, identifying his decades of law-enforcement experience. Councilor Alice Merkel said she was “proud” of city efforts to post information online and host Know Your Rights trainings, and called the police chief’s participation in community meetings important to building trust. Ty Halfworth said the city has been “doing what we need to” and praised local outreach. John Harvey and other candidates echoed the point that residents should feel safe calling police regardless of immigration status.

Why this matters: Candidates framed the issue as one of public safety and trust rather than a question of federal policy. Several candidates pointed to concrete city practices—Know Your Rights trainings, translation and community meetings, and public information on the city website—as ways to reduce fear among immigrant residents and encourage cooperation with law enforcement.

Supporting details and differences: Brosniewski, a former police officer, emphasized that Salem officers “never” ask about U.S. citizenship during routine response, calling the department’s mission to “protect everyone equally.” Merkel and others noted efforts to increase diversity in the police force and reduce language barriers; Merkel also said the police chief has actively attended community meetings to answer questions. Ty Halfworth recounted inviting the chief to trainings and praised the department’s “intelligence and compassion” on the issue. Candidates agreed Salem’s existing policy—summarized by speakers as a local commitment that “Salem police is not immigration enforcement”—should be maintained and communicated to residents.

What candidates said about limits: Several candidates said the city cannot stop federal agents from operating in Salem but should avoid assisting them except where required for public-safety reasons. Brosniewski said federal agents “can come into our community. We can’t stop that. Do we assist them? We only assist them for safety reasons.” Merkel urged continued municipal actions—ordinances, outreach, and translation services—to protect immigrant residents and reiterated that the council should act to ensure residents know their rights.

Ending: Candidates stressed maintaining and publicizing local policies that prioritize victims’ willingness to report crimes and preserve public safety while resisting the use of local police as de facto immigration agents.