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Council approves IGA to accept 'local border support' funds for Metro Narcotics; staff clarifies use limited to drug interdiction
Summary
The council approved an intergovernmental agreement with Coconino County to accept local border support grant funds. Police staff told council the funds are designated for Metro Narcotics operations, specifically drug smuggling interdiction, and are not for immigration enforcement or removal actions.
The Flagstaff City Council on July 1 approved an intergovernmental agreement with Coconino County to accept local border support grant funds routed through the Arizona Department of Public Safety. Deputy Chief Charles Hernandez of the Flagstaff Police Department told council the funding will support the Metro Narcotics Unit for drug interdiction and operational and personnel costs.
Hernandez emphasized the grant’s operational focus. “I want to assure you that these funds are designated to the Metro Narcotics Unit whose primary focus is drug smuggling and interdiction of drugs within the community, and that's the only support that we use these funds for,” he told council. Councilmember Garcia asked whether the city’s criminal investigations work implicates non‑citizens and whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is involved; Hernandez said the department does not have a direct enforcement relationship with ICE under this grant and does not conduct immigration removal actions as part of Metro Narcotics operations.
Council voted to read and adopt the resolution approving the intergovernmental agreement. Staff said the IGA directs funds to operational and personnel expenses for Metro Narcotics and that program oversight will follow standard grant administration practices.
