Residents urge Mesa to end 287(g) cooperation with ICE at public comment
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Summary
Multiple residents urged the Mesa City Council to end the city's 287(g) cooperative agreement with ICE, recounting alleged ICE presence and Mesa Police searches, and calling on the city to prioritize humane policies and community safety.
During the public-comment portion of the Feb. 9 Mesa City Council meeting, three speakers urged the council to end the city's 287(g) cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Rohit Chandrasekhar, who said he works in downtown Mesa, described witnessing ICE activity in the area and accused the city of "a culture of collaboration" that intimidates immigrant community members. "ICE out of Mesa," he said, and cited an incident he described as a July 1, 2025 search by a Mesa officer named Kent Green at the request of an agent Thompson of HSI.
Reggie Braun spoke briefly, urging compassion and saying enforcement actions have eroded public trust and travel to some areas. Ryan Jarabersch (District 1) asked the council to end the 287(g) agreement and described taking personal safety precautions while traveling because he does not trust how custody would be handled if Mesa Police detained someone.
Speakers framed the issue as a public-safety and civil-rights concern and asked the council to change policy. No council action on the 287(g) agreement was taken during the meeting; staff noted state law can limit responses during public comment.
