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Residents press council over potential ICE MOU; mayor and council respond
Summary
Multiple Elizabethtown residents urged the borough to reconsider any memorandum of understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement during public comment Feb. 5; speakers were split, and Mayor Phil Clark and several councilmembers addressed the Ice Out protest and individual comments by Councilmember Matthew Rodriguez.
During public comment at the Feb. 5 meeting, several residents raised concerns about the borough signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), while others spoke in favor of cooperation with ICE. Ezra Gorman opened public comment with concerns about such an MOU. Clarissa Grunwald, Deborah Santiago and Jamie Fickes also expressed concern; Theia Hofstetter said she supported the borough signing an MOU with ICE. Kristy Moore and Alisha Runkle said they supported Resolution 2020‑06 and opposed Resolution 2024‑09. Justin Roeder raised concern about remarks made by Councilmember Matthew Rodriguez at the Ice Out protest.
After public comment, Mayor Phil Clark said that one of his duties is oversight of the police department and that he attended the Ice Out protest in support of police officers. Vice President Jeff McCloud said he had attended Ice Out and expressed concerns about current events surrounding ICE. Councilmember Matthew Rodriguez told the council that his remarks at Ice Out represented his personal views and not the official position of Borough Council.
Why this matters: the potential MOU with ICE and the debate over local officials’ public remarks prompted multiple residents to speak and drew responses from the mayor and council, indicating the issue remains politically sensitive in the borough. The transcript records public testimony and officials’ statements but does not show any council vote or formal action on an ICE MOU at this meeting.
Next steps: no formal action on an MOU was recorded in the minutes; the matter remains subject to future council consideration should staff or a councilmember place it on the agenda.
