Acton leaders discuss federal immigration enforcement at police station; board to review proposed policy updates

Acton Police Department leaders briefed the Select Board on Oct. 6 about how the department handles federal immigration-enforcement activity, and a lengthy public comment period followed in which residents described concerns about federal agents in the community and asked the town to strengthen local protections.

Chief Kogan (Acton Police Department) told the board that the department does not participate in routine civil immigration enforcement and described how custodial notifications reach ICE during the booking process. "In that process, ICE is notified and they may contact us and let us know that they have a, detainer or some other type of, maybe a warrant for a person that they are interested in taking into custody," the chief said. He added the department follows state guidance and does not change booking procedures when ICE expresses interest: "If we do a booking and the person's ready…