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Residents urge council to take action on ICE practices and support DEI; speakers request identification, resources and local accountability
Summary
Three residents urged the council to publicly address federal immigration enforcement and to adopt measures such as clearer local guidance, police oversight of federal actions and resource links; speakers asked for the city to demand identification from ICE and provide resources for affected residents.
At the start of the councils regular meeting, three members of the public addressed immigration enforcement and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) issues.
Jonathan Polifka opened public comment by urging a public stance from the mayor and council about federal law-enforcement conduct, alleging civil-rights violations and a lack of due-process protections. Polifka offered two historical quotations and asked the presiding officer whether the council would permit a response; the record shows staff declined to take responses during public comment.
Karen Stabin, a local homeowner, urged the council to support DEI initiatives and asked the council to direct law enforcement to demand identification from ICE agents, to prohibit masks by federal agents during local actions and to step in when residents experience warrantless arrests or searches. "When our officers make a legal arrest, we know where that person is," Stabin said, and she asked that the same information and access to counsel be ensured for residents.
Ames Bierle thanked the council for convening a committee to explore an emergency statement regarding ICE activity and suggested models from other Oregon cities, including requiring police presence during federal actions with body cameras and curating resource links so residents know where to get help.
Council did not take formal action on these public comments during the meeting; staff and council members referenced ongoing committee work and outreach on ICE policy considerations elsewhere in the agenda.
