Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the 287g And Immigration topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students and residents urge Mesa to cancel 287(g) agreement; speakers describe fear among immigrant communities
Summary
Public commenters at the March 9 council meeting urged Mesa officials to cancel the city's 287(g) agreement with ICE, saying it deters crime reporting and undermines public safety; other residents argued for strict enforcement of immigration laws.
During the public-comment period of the March 9 Mesa City Council meeting, speakers urged opposite responses to local immigration enforcement.
Adela, a junior-high student who identified herself as a Mesa resident, asked the council to cancel the city’s 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. "Cancel the 287(g) agreement with ICE and set clear boundaries that protect the trust between law enforcement and the community," she said, arguing that fear of immigration enforcement can discourage crime reporting and make neighborhoods less safe.
Leanne Mcgelvie appealed to the council’s sense of compassion and economic reality, citing research she said showed immigration benefits communities and urging leaders to act to preserve trust. "When fear walks in the door, safety walks out the window," she said.
Michelle Cleveland, a naturalized resident who said her family waited in line in a refugee camp, took a contrasting view and called for enforcement of immigration laws, asserting that people who enter the country illegally should be returned to their country of origin.
The council did not take action on the 287(g) agreement during the meeting. Speakers framed the issue as one that affects reporting of crimes, community trust in police and the city’s obligation to balance enforcement with public-safety goals.
Next steps: No vote or referral on 287(g) was taken at this meeting; the matter remained a topic for public comment and possible future agenda consideration.
