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Public commenters urge cooperation with DHS/ICE and ask about housing, YMCA funding
Summary
During public comment an unidentified speaker urged the city to develop a protocol to cooperate with Department of Homeland Security/ICE and to vet litigants via 287(g) arrangements; other commenters asked about local housing resources and YMCA funding/timeline.
Several members of the public used the comment period to press the council on different issues. An unidentified speaker who addressed the council earlier in the meeting urged the city to adopt a protocol to cooperate with the Department of Homeland Security and ICE and to require parties bringing litigation involving the city to prove citizenship status through mechanisms the speaker identified as '287(g)' or 'Secure Communities.' The speaker said such a protocol would "fish out a lot of problems" and prevent "frivolous lawsuits" from "unscrupulous lawyers" or organizations.
City staff and the City Attorney reminded the public that the closed-session items were governed by Government Code authorities and that the council would report any reportable actions after the closed session. During open public comment a different speaker asked why Downey lacks visible housing resources and questioned the city's role in the YMCA reconstruction timeline; staff said the City does not control the YMCA but that staff would follow up offline and that the City had provided prior contributions.
The council did not adopt any new enforcement or vetting policies during the meeting. Staff indicated they would follow up with individual commenters to provide additional information.
