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Committee advances resolve documenting city procedure if federal 287(g) authority were requested
Summary
The Government Operations Committee moved a resolve to the full council that records the city’s established procedure if a federal 287(g) immigration enforcement agreement were ever requested. Committee discussion emphasized that the resolve documents existing processes and does not create a sanctuary city or alter federal authority.
The Government Operations Committee voted to forward to the full council a resolve that documents the City of Bangor’s existing procedure should a request be made to enter a federal 287(g) immigration enforcement agreement.
Members of the advisory committee on racial equity, inclusion and human rights — including Katie Bridal, who chairs the advisory committee — told the committee the text is intended to put in writing an established procedure discussed earlier with the chief of police, the city solicitor, the city manager and other staff.
Katie Bridal said the draft reflects prior public statements and meetings and is intended to increase public understanding of what steps city officials and staff would follow if federal immigration authorities sought formal operating authority. Bridal told the committee the document "outlines the procedure of what would happen should our city be asked to ever enter into a 287(g) agreement."
The chief of police told the committee that the city has not requested 287(g) authority and does not anticipate requesting it. The chief described 287(g) as an authorization mechanism for local law enforcement to exercise certain immigration enforcement functions and said that, in routine investigations, police would contact federal partners for guidance when documentation questions arise.
Committee members debated two recurring concerns: whether documenting the procedure would jeopardize federal funding and whether the resolve should be a stronger public statement of the city’s welcoming stance. Several members noted both legal research and federal court precedent indicating that courts have generally limited the federal government’s ability to withhold unrelated funds from municipalities that decline cooperative immigration roles. Other members said the resolve offers reassurance to residents who fear immigration enforcement.
After discussion the committee made and seconded a motion to move the resolve to the full council for consideration; the committee will not finalize or adopt the resolve tonight but will allow the council to consider it in a full public vote.
No formal change to departmental policy was made by the committee; the action advanced the resolve to the council for final consideration.
