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Utica resident reads letter alleging constitutional concerns after apparent ICE/FBI encounter; council will include letter in record
Summary
A resident told the council she and her husband believe federal agents may have entered their backyard without a judicial warrant; the council clerk accepted a copy to include in the meeting record and staff advised the matter be part of the public-comment record for the regular 7 p.m. meeting.
A Utica resident on Wednesday read a letter to the Common Council saying four men — two wearing jackets marked “ICE” and “FBI” and two others without markings — appeared at her front door on the morning of May 24 seeking an asylum seeker who had stayed at her home. The letter says the resident asked whether the men had a judicial warrant and that after they left she discovered the backyard gate partially open.
The letter, from Jim and Debbie Kelsey and read into the council record, states the couple believes the gate was opened at the time and that such entry would violate the Fourth Amendment absent a judicial warrant or exigent circumstances. The letter asks the council to ask ICE and the FBI to orient their agents to Fourth Amendment protections and to emphasize constitutional limits on searches and entries.
Council staff accepted a copy of the letter for the record and told the resident the letter would be included in the minutes and read into the record again at the 7 p.m. public-comment period if she wished. Councilors and staff noted this was a public-comment matter; they did not launch a formal inquiry during Wednesday’s meeting but offered to ensure the letter is on the council record for the evening session.
The letter says the resident is not alleging unlawful conduct by all officers but expressed concern that inadequate training could lead to constitutional violations. The council did not take action on the substance of the letter during the afternoon session.
