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Somerville council asks administration for data on immigration-related business impacts and ICE detainers
Summary
Councilors heard from East Somerville restaurant owners and asked the city to report on how recent federal immigration activity is affecting local businesses and to provide annual statistics on Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers under the city—s welcoming city ordinance.
Councilors on the Somerville City Council on Tuesday asked the administration to gather and report information about how federal immigration actions are affecting small businesses — particularly in East Somerville — and requested an update from the police on annual ICE detainer activity under the city—s welcoming city ordinance.
The request followed public remarks from Daniel Horquez, owner of LaBrassa restaurant in East Somerville, who told the council that business owners in his neighborhood are seeing "a noticeable shortage" of customers and are discussing potential closures. "A lot of conversation was had ... there were a couple restaurant owners within the Broadway. They're talking about potential closures," Horquez said.
Councilor Matt McLaughlin, who sponsored the item, said anecdotal reports show an absence of customers at shops and restaurants in East Somerville and that both undocumented and naturalized residents are fearful and avoiding public spaces. "This item is about talking about what his policies are already doing in this community," McLaughlin said, urging neighbors to support local immigrant-owned businesses.
Separately, McLaughlin introduced a related order asking the chief of police to update the council on ICE detainers reported to the city, citing a recent media report and an ICE press release that he said had been interpreted to blame Somerville for the actions of federal authorities. "One of the parts of the welcoming city ordinance is asking annual update about ICE detainers in the city," McLaughlin said, noting that ICE is a federal agency that does not need local permission to operate in the city.
Councilor Ben Wilson confirmed his conversation with the police department indicating there was no Somerville jurisdictional "angle" in the recent case cited by ICE's Boston office and reiterated the difference between civil detainers issued by federal authorities and criminal holds under state law. "Under state law ... SPD cannot hold someone on that civil detainer, only for a criminal detainer," Wilson said.
The council voted to send McLaughlin's orders to the Public Health & Public Safety committee for further discussion and follow-up with the administration.
Why it matters: Councilors said they want documented evidence to determine whether immigration-related federal actions are affecting tax revenue or the day‑to‑day viability of small businesses in immigrant‑dense neighborhoods such as East Somerville.
