Mayor Davis tells Missoula residents the city won’t perform immigration enforcement, will act on judicial warrants

At the Feb. 9 Missoula City Council meeting, Mayor Davis clarified the city’s approach to immigration enforcement and cooperation with federal agencies, saying Missoula ‘‘is not in the business of immigration enforcement’’ but will act when there is a judicial warrant.

Davis summarized a City Club presentation that included Fire Chief Lonnie Rasch, Missoula Police Chief Mike Cloyer and Missoula County Sheriff Jeremiah Peterson, and used the occasion to explain the local policy. ‘‘We are not in the business of immigration enforcement,’’ the mayor said, adding that the city ‘‘has not been deputized as such, and we have not signed federal agreements to do as such.’’

The mayor emphasized the distinction between judicial warrants and administrative warrants: ‘‘If there is a judicial warrant that is issued for somebody that does have a criminal sanction against them…we will move forward with justice for a judicial warrant. The difference is that we will not do so for an administrative warrant, which is not issued by a judge.’’ He also described longstanding cooperation with federal programs such as the FBI’s Safe Streets program and the High Impact Drug Task Force as part of efforts to keep the community safe.

During public comment earlier in the meeting, Susan Renaud urged the council to ‘‘cooperate in law enforcement as a whole as a team’’ and said she was ‘‘disturbed’’ by reports that the council had not cooperated with ICE. Katie Thompson, speaking later, praised the council’s decision not to cooperate with ICE and thanked members for protecting due process.

What happens next: The mayor directed residents to a City of Missoula web page with a summary and a Missoula Police Department FAQ for more details on department policies and identification practices.