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Chelsea council discusses resolution limiting some ICE enforcement after student walkout
Summary
Students who organized a walkout urged the Chelsea City Council to adopt a resolution restricting certain ICE actions in city facilities; council discussed amendments and asked staff and the police chief questions about surveillance and operational impacts, with a formal vote to return at a future meeting.
Chelsea — Students who organized a recent walkout at Chelsea High School urged the City Council on Feb. 23 to move forward with a draft resolution limiting some civil immigration enforcement activities in city spaces.
Zofia Bendena, a junior at Chelsea High School, told the council she and her peers "support the related resolution that the City Council has drafted regarding Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)," and Sophie Bellizzi, another student organizer, said she was proud to help organize the walkout and "emphasized that ICE should concern everyone." Several other residents spoke in favor of the resolution during public comment.
Attorney Fink described the draft as opposing ICE officers conducting civil immigration enforcement in Chelsea while concealing their identities (for example, with masks) and limiting such activities inside City-owned buildings unless required by law or supported by a valid judicial warrant. The draft also would prohibit City staff from voluntarily assisting with civil immigration enforcement in City facilities except when legally compelled. Fink said council members had proposed potential amendments and that a revised resolution would return for consideration at a future meeting.
Council members asked procedural and operational questions about the scope and enforceability of the draft. Council Member Tony Iannelli asked about the intersection of the draft resolution with police technology; Chief Kazyak responded to those questions and addressed the council's inquiries about the use of Flock cameras and other surveillance practices.
No formal vote on the immigration resolution was taken that evening; Attorney Fink and staff will bring back amended language for council review at a subsequent meeting. Mayor Kate Henson and other members thanked the students for their engagement and noted avenues for continued dialogue.
Next steps: the council expects amendments to be drafted and the resolution to be scheduled for a future agenda where the council will consider formal action.
