Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Advisory petition urging police not to enter 287(g) agreement with ICE passes in secret ballot
Summary
Voters passed an advisory petition, 75–56, recommending that the Ossipee Police Department withdraw from or not enter a 287(g) agreement with ICE. Petitioners said the program could undermine trust and public safety; opponents argued local law enforcement needs tools to address serious crimes and that operational discretion rests with the chief.
A petitioned advisory asking the town to recommend that the Ossipee Police Department not enter into any 287(g) agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was the subject of extended debate. Petitioners said deputizing local officers to carry out federal immigration enforcement risks undermining trust, could expose the town to legal liability, and would shift local policing priorities.
Petitioner Josh framed the issue as about priorities and trust: “I don't think there is a place for immigration enforcement by local police; that is a federal responsibility,” he said, arguing that the program could make residents less likely to report crime. Opponents, including several residents and town staff, said the chief's intent in discussing such agreements is to gain investigative tools for serious crimes and that operational control sits with the chief.
Because the petition met the threshold for a secret ballot, the moderator collected votes by ballot and announced the advisory passed 75 to 56. Town counsel reminded the assembly that such advisory articles are nonbinding and that the chief retains statutory authority to run the department.
The article’s passage signals community concern and will likely prompt further dialogue between the board, the police department and community organizations about how immigration enforcement interfaces with public‑safety priorities.
