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Residents press council for action on ICE 287(g) agreement; council moves to revise fireworks rules
Summary
During public comment, residents urged the City Council to vote on the police chief's 287(g) agreement with ICE and questioned how many people were turned over under the agreement; a resident asked for a formal council vote. Separately, council directed corporate counsel to draft amendments to the fireworks ordinance to limit transient tent sales and better support brick-and-mortar retailers along Telegraph Road.
Public commenters at the April 7 meeting urged the Taylor City Council to take a formal vote on the police chief's 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying the agreement has been in effect about a year and has not been publicly approved or disapproved by council. One commenter said the city "continues with the singular dishonor of being the only municipality within the state of Michigan signed on to ICE for the 287(g) task force agreement" and asked the council to put the matter to a vote.
During the public-comment exchange resident Eric Hall (who gave a street address on the public record) asked how many immigrants had been turned over to ICE in the past 90 days; the answer given in the meeting transcript was "2." The commenter called the lack of a council vote "impure apathy" and asked for the council to resolve the matter by taking a vote so the public can know the city's position.
Later in the meeting Councilmember Wallace moved and the council voted to direct corporate counsel to draft amendments to the city fireworks ordinance. The proposed direction would limit transient tent vendors and favor established brick-and-mortar fireworks retailers on Telegraph Road; council members debated whether the changes are aimed primarily at supporting local businesses, reducing late-night fireworks use or both. The council discussed enforcement limits and whether restricting sales would reduce illegal use; members noted enforcement is the key issue and that restricting supply likely will not stop late-night fireworks.
Council approved the direction to draft the ordinance amendments by a recorded vote that was reflected in the meeting record.
