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Local resident criticizes ICE action, urges city to reject immigration-enforcement agreements and address student homelessness
Summary
Resident Ashley Fisher told the Helena City Commission on Sept. 22 she and others witnessed an ICE detention in Helena on Sept. 9 and urged the city to refuse immigration-enforcement agreements and increase transparency; she also said about 250 Helena School District students are homeless.
At the Sept. 22 Helena City Commission meeting, resident Ashley Fisher addressed commissioners during the public-comment period, urging several actions related to immigration enforcement and calling attention to student homelessness in the Helena School District.
Fisher said attendees witnessed what she described as an ICE detention on Sept. 9 involving a man from Flathead County who had driven to Helena for an ICE appointment. She characterized the event as “extremely concerning.” Fisher repeated a set of demands made at a previous meeting: that the city should never enter a 287(g) or similar immigration-enforcement agreement; that local law enforcement and city staff be prohibited from asking about citizenship or immigration status (which she described as racial profiling); that local staff provide only information legally required and require federal officers to identify themselves; and that any requests for assistance from immigration authorities be documented and made available online with personal names redacted.
Fisher also said the Helena School District currently has about 250 students who are homeless and asked the commission to work on affordable housing solutions.
Her remarks were presented as public comment; commissioners did not take formal action on the matters during the meeting.
