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Salem City council candidates stress immigrant outreach, local policing limits at forum
Summary
At a Salem City candidate forum, several candidates emphasized that local police do not check immigration status and urged outreach to immigrant communities while balancing public safety concerns.
At a candidate forum held at the Hotel Hawthorne in Salem City, candidates addressed immigration-related concerns and the role of local police in protecting immigrant residents.
Candidates and forum participants repeatedly said local law enforcement does not inquire about immigration status and highlighted outreach to make immigrants feel safe calling police. Several speakers noted that the city has longstanding policies intended to separate local policing from federal immigration enforcement, referring to city ordinances from 2016–2017 that “renewed the commitment” to public trust.
A candidate who identified as a former police detective described how local officers do not ask about citizenship and urged the city to ensure that residents know their rights and how to interact with officers. Candidates said Chief Meller was invited to community meetings to answer questions and that the police department has attended local events to build trust with immigrant residents.
Speakers also emphasized language access and interpretation as part of outreach: the forum itself provided simultaneous Spanish interpretation and candidates thanked local interpreters and community groups for supporting access.
Candidates framed their comments as balancing public safety with inclusiveness. Several said they opposed policies that would discourage victims or witnesses from contacting police; at the same time, some criticized federal immigration enforcement practices and said local government should act to ensure residents feel safe.
Background cited at the forum included a city ordinance from 2016–2017 described by speakers as renewing the city’s commitment to protecting community trust; forum remarks did not detail the ordinance text or legal citations. No formal policy change or vote occurred at the forum.
