Lewiston council approves emergency ordinance limiting municipal cooperation with federal immigration enforcement
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Summary
After hours of debate and more than two hours of public comment, Lewiston’s City Council adopted an emergency ordinance restricting city employees from assisting federal immigration enforcement except when ‘legally authorized,’ a change officials said was requested by the police chief; the measure passed 5–2 and takes effect immediately for up to 60 days.
The Lewiston City Council adopted an emergency ordinance Tuesday night that restricts city employees from assisting federal immigration-enforcement operations except when doing so is “legally authorized” by state or federal law or a judicial order. The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote of 5 to 2 and takes effect immediately as an emergency measure for up to 60 days.
Councilor Chittum, who introduced the ordinance and said it mirrors pending state law (LD 1971), told colleagues the draft incorporates feedback from the police chief and is intended to preserve local resources and clarify staff responsibilities during a short implementation gap before the state framework becomes operational. Administrator Kanrath said the ordinance affects “all departments and all employees of the city of Lewiston,” while the police department insisted the change from “required” to “authorized” reflects standard law-enforcement usage and preserves necessary operational discretion.
The council spent considerable time on the specific language. Councilor Harriman argued the change from “legally required” to “legally authorized” weakens protections and could permit conduct the council sought to limit. Chief Connolly and supporters of the change said “authorized” is the term used in many statutes and better reflects policing practice; the chief said the department sought clarity on statutory language and judicial orders rather than administrative agency directives.
Public comment was lengthy and sharply divided. Supporters said the ordinance would protect vulnerable immigrant residents, preserve public trust in local institutions and keep scarce city resources focused on local priorities. Opponents—including several residents and former elected officials—said the measure risks hampering public safety and called it performative, noting that the Lewiston Police Department already had a policy limiting cooperation in immigration operations.
Councilors debated both policy and process, including whether emergency designation was warranted given an impending state law and the department’s stated practices. Councilor Martel said he found no evidence the ordinance addresses any local misconduct, while Councilor Nejean and others defended the ordinance as a way to avoid civil-rights exposure and to preserve community trust.
Because it was adopted as an emergency ordinance it will remain in force for up to 60 days; councilors said they intend to introduce identical permanent language on first reading at the next meeting and complete the full two-reading adoption in mid-March.
