Residents urge Billings City Council to bar local cooperation with ICE and seek alternatives to Israeli-owned geofencing
Loading...
Summary
Multiple residents urged the Billings City Council to direct police not to enter into 287(g) agreements with ICE, to limit data-sharing and to seek alternatives to Placer AI for parks geofencing; councilors heard a range of public comments but took no formal action at the meeting.
Multiple residents urged the City of Billings on Monday to take concrete steps to limit local cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and to change the city’s use of geofencing software.
At public comment, Sonia Davis, a downtown resident, asked the council to “direct the parks and rec department to find an alternative software” to Placer AI and argued no government should engage with what she described as “apartheid states.” Davis identified Placer AI as an Israeli-owned company and said the council should prioritize transparent procurement alternatives.
Lane Dorsey, speaking for the Billings Alliance for American Rights, told the council the group wants more than statements: “We need action from city council to actually prevent ICE from coming into our community,” including asking Billings Police Department not to enter into a 287(g) agreement and requesting the city decline land-use contracts with ICE when possible.
Other speakers pressed similar concerns. Andreas of the Billings Alliance for Immigrants’ Rights repeated demands that the council prevent local police from signing a 287(g) agreement and to limit disclosure of immigration status or place of birth except when required by law. Isabella Franklin cited DHS-related detention statistics and said immigrant families fear local collaboration with ICE. Several residents warned that face coverings and lack of identification by federal agents reduce transparency and public trust.
Not all public commenters urged formal non-cooperation. Jennifer Strong and Anne Clancy reminded the council of the limits of its authority and urged careful review of any formal agreement with federal agencies, framing the issue as one that touches on the city’s stated partnership and community values.
The council took these comments under advisement but did not adopt a resolution, policy or directive during the meeting. Several speakers asked for a formal council review or a resolution similar to one recently adopted in Helena; council members noted legal and charter limits and said staff would provide more information if the council asks for it.
The public comments focused on three clear requests: (1) direct Billings Police Department to avoid entering a 287(g) agreement with ICE, (2) limit sharing of immigration or birthplace data absent a court order or legal requirement, and (3) review city use of Placer AI and identify alternative geofencing vendors. The council did not announce a timeline for responding at this meeting.
