Billings residents denounce county letter proposing use of Metropark for detained immigrants; commissioners schedule special meeting

Billings residents turned out on Jan. 28 to sharply criticize a chairman’s letter that, commenters said, invited use of the Metropark facility to house detained immigrants.

Melissa Smith, a Billings resident, told the Board of County Commissioners, “The letter reads very clearly that the commissioners feel that we have a crime problem in Yellowstone County,” and said the document “egregiously misrepresents the needs of Yellowstone County.”

The public outcry came during the meeting’s public-comment period, where more than a dozen residents urged the commissioners not to offer Metropark — the county’s major event venue — as a site for detaining people in federal custody. Several speakers characterized the idea as harmful to community safety and local businesses and said the proposal would stigmatize immigrants who live and work in the county.

“Start with Ellis Island, not rounding up our neighbors,” said Ashley Woodward, who identified herself as an enrolled member of the Little Shell Chippewa Tribe. Norma Buchanan told the board, “I object completely to your letter…