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Resident raises immigration enforcement concerns; council members back study session
Summary
A resident, Alexandra Iwanenko, told council she has documents suggesting Erie police called federal immigration authorities for nonviolent incidents; council members said they want a study session to review policies and practices.
At the start of the public-comment period on March 5, Erie resident Alexandra Iwanenko urged council to review the city’s policies and their implementation on interactions between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
Iwanenko said Erie is a certified “welcoming community” and that upgrading that certification would require a policy clearly delineating the roles of local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. She said she had received reports from community members alleging Erie Police stopped family members, asked for documents and that federal immigration was subsequently notified; she said she reviewed an ICE Form I-213 narrative that named Erie police calling a border patrol station after a person was found without an ID.
Iwanenko said the mayor’s Jan. 30 statement said Erie police would call federal immigration authorities only when someone was involved in a violent crime or being investigated for violent crime; she asked council and the administration to confirm whether the police are following that standard and to consider policy clarifications.
Council Member Nelson said he supports scheduling a study session after caucus discussion and that he expects the council will put a resolution on a future agenda to provide a little more time or clarity on related scheduling matters. Councilwoman Barrett (identified from the meeting as a council liaison) also urged a study session; she said many constituents have contacted council expressing fear and a sense of not being heard, and she emphasized the need for clear, dignified policies and consistent execution by the administration and police.
Several other council members affirmed the request to convene a study session to review policy, implementation and any necessary clarifications. No formal motion or vote was recorded during the public-comment portion; council members said they would coordinate with the president and administration to set the study session.
Speakers during the meeting emphasized distinguishing between policy (what the city intends) and practice (how officers act in the field) and asked for a formal forum so council could be briefed and seek clarifications from staff and the police department.
