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Needham police: officers enforce state and local law, not federal civil immigration detainers
Summary
Police Chief John Schlittler told the Select Board Jan. 27 that under Massachusetts case law municipal officers lack authority to hold people solely on an ICE civil detainer without a judicial warrant; the board asked the town manager to review policies and guidance to ensure safety and clarity for residents and officers.
Police Chief John Schlittler told the Needham Select Board on Jan. 27 that the Needham Police Department enforces local and state law, not federal civil immigration detainers, and that officers have been trained on the relevant Massachusetts case law.
Citing the 2017 Supreme Judicial Court decision Commonwealth v. Lund, Schlittler said a federal civil immigration detainer is an administrative request and not a judicial warrant. "If…
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