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Immigration-enforcement FAQs and transparency demands raised in public comment; commissioners agree to present FAQ at future meeting
Summary
Residents urged the commission to stop local police cooperation with immigration enforcement and called for greater transparency; commissioners agreed to place the city's FAQ document on a future agenda for discussion and updates from the city manager and department directors.
Multiple public commenters on Oct. 1 urged Helena City officials to address local cooperation with immigration enforcement and called for greater transparency. The commission agreed to place a discussion on the FAQ document related to immigration enforcement on a future agenda so the city manager and department directors can present updates.
Julia Cotter addressed the commission by name and asked for action beyond the FAQ document. “I came to this meeting under the advisement that it would be put on the agenda for further discussion, but was disappointed,” Cotter said, asking the commission how to add demands pending for several months to a future agenda and for more transparency about Helena Police Department cooperation with immigration enforcement.
Earlier in the meeting, a commissioner asked for consensus for a public discussion of the “ICE issue,” requesting an informational presentation and the opportunity to have an actual noticed public discussion rather than another comment period. Several commissioners agreed they wanted the city manager and relevant department directors to present the information contained in the FAQ and allow time for discussion, not solely public comment.
Ben Kiper, chair of the Helena Climate Coalition (HCC), reminded the commission that the HCC took a position in April 2024 supporting universal curbside recycling and also referenced sustainability items in public comment. Kiper’s comments were offered during public-comment remarks on sustainability items.
Why it matters: Commenters asked for transparency and a formal discussion of police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Commissioners asked staff to present and discuss the FAQ document and related departmental updates to provide information and an opportunity for commission-level discussion.
No formal policy or ordinance changes were made at the Oct. 1 administrative meeting; commissioners directed staff to present the FAQ and information at a future meeting for discussion.
