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Blaine police say department does not take part in immigration enforcement; residents press council for answers
Summary
At a Jan. 21 council meeting, Police Chief Pedani told the Blaine City Council the department does not perform immigration enforcement and defers to federal authorities after residents raised reports of ICE activity and asked whether the city shares surveillance or other data with federal agencies.
Blaine Police Chief Brian Pedani told the City Council on Jan. 21 that the Blaine Police Department does not participate in immigration enforcement and defers those matters to federal authorities, after several residents said they had seen federal agents in the area and expressed fear for family members and students.
"The Blaine police department is not involved in immigration enforcement and defers all immigration enforcement to federal authorities," Pedani said, adding that the department has not been asked by federal agencies to participate in enforcement actions. He said the city will report any conduct that appears to be a civil-rights violation to appropriate authorities.
Residents used the meeting's open forum to press the council for more detail. Nicole Martens Maxson said teachers, children and families in the community are "really feeling this" and asked whether the city would provide surveillance data or other resources to ICE or other federal agencies. "I feel like a lot of us feel like our city, our state is under attack," she said.
Maria Gartner asked whether any surveillance the city controls would be given to federal sources and sought clarity about the legality of sharing such information. A staff member asked speakers to provide contact information so Chief Pedani could follow up after the meeting and answer specific questions.
Bruce Manthey raised a separate public-safety concern about an electrical box at Lexington Avenue and 99th Avenue NE that he said obstructs sight lines and may violate a Blaine ordinance limiting height; he asked staff to investigate and referenced prior county feedback.
Mayor Tim Sanders opened the meeting and said staff would follow up with speakers outside the meeting. Council members and staff did not take formal action on data-sharing policies during the session; Chief Pedani encouraged anyone who observes federal activity they find concerning to contact the department of Homeland Security or ICE, and to reach out to the Blaine Police Department so staff can look into potential civil-rights issues.
The council did not adopt any new policy at the meeting. City staff said they would follow up with concerned residents to provide additional information and answers.
