Whitefish residents demand transparency, training after Border Patrol detainment

Dozens of residents pressed the Whitefish City Council on June 2 for transparency, training and an apology after a traffic stop that led to a local man's transfer to federal custody and a multi‑day detention by U.S. Border Patrol.

The demands centered on whether the Whitefish Police Department should have called Border Patrol during an otherwise routine traffic stop, whether officers received sufficient training to identify lawful immigration status, and whether the city should limit future contacts with federal immigration agents.

The issue drew sustained testimony from advocates and neighbors who said the episode caused fear and trauma in the community. Leonette Galaz, president of Columbia Falls, said the city should stop working with Border Patrol on routine stops and called for an investigation and an apology. "We demand the city of Whitefish immediately cease contacting or collaborating with border patrol for any interactions that do not involve potential…