Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Comment Immigration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Local coalition urges supervisors to scrutinize ICE detainees, defends civil-rights protections
Summary
At the Jan. 14 meeting an activist representing the Local Justice and Liberation Coalition urged the Board to oppose recent federal policy shifts, requested information about ICE detainees held in the Linn County Jail (she stated 16 detainees), and called for local accountability and engagement with Cedar Rapids officials; the board acknowledged the comment with no formal response recorded.
Anne Harris Carter, speaking for the Local Justice and Liberation Coalition, used the final public-comment period on Jan. 14 to press the Linn County Board of Supervisors to uphold diversity, equity, inclusion and due process. Her prepared statement criticized recent federal changes affecting national-park fee-free days and expressed alarm over reported ICE practices nationally. She asked the board to examine local operations and accountability where ICE detainees are housed.
Carter told the board "Did you know that we currently have 16 people detained by ICE in the Lynn County Jail? These individuals are in your house. They are under your roof. We urge you to ask questions about these detainees. Find out what the charges are against them, ensure that they have translation services, provide them with funding to make calls. Make certain they are safe and are afforded all of the rights we..." She asked supervisors to call ICE before the board, to work with the city of Cedar Rapids and other elected officials and to seek removal of ICE from the community.
The board thanked Carter for her remarks. No committee referral or formal board action was recorded in the meeting minutes; supervisors did not provide a response beyond acknowledgement and thanks. The transcript shows one other public commenter earlier praised the Duane Arnold rezoning approval; no public comments opposing the Duane Arnold item were recorded in the session.
