Portsmouth leaders hear residents’ alarm over ICE operations; police say they are not deputized

Portsmouth residents pressed the City Council on Tuesday to act after federal immigration enforcement activity in the city that several speakers described as terrifying and disorienting. The council heard more than a dozen public comments urging clearer local rules for visiting federal agents, better advance notice to affected communities and businesses, and concrete resources to help people know their rights.

The city’s police chief, Mark Newport, told the council the Portsmouth Police Department does not participate in Homeland Security or ICE investigations and “does not have the designation to detain anybody in the city for immigration purposes.” Newport said local officers receive notice when federal agents operate in the city “as a heads up,” but that the department was not involved in the two recent incidents residents mentioned and was not asked to respond.

Why residents pushed for action

Speakers said the recent arrests—some they said took place at restaurants or in a bank parking lot—have left immigrants, naturalized citizens and their co-workers afraid to work, shop or send…