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Peekskill council adopts immigration enforcement policy after residents urge local law
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents urging a local law and Spanish-language materials, the Peekskill Common Council adopted an Immigration Enforcement and Discrimination Policy that limits most cooperation with federal immigration authorities absent a judicial warrant and requires annual public reporting and detainee notification procedures.
The Peekskill Common Council on Feb. 23 adopted an Immigration Enforcement and Discrimination Policy that restricts most city and police cooperation with federal immigration authorities unless accompanied by a judicial warrant or other limited exceptions.
City Attorney Eric Gordon presented the statement by a city official at the start of the public hearing and the council then heard nearly two dozen public commenters. Pastor Valerie Paul Greenaway, who identified herself as pastor at 1040 Main Street United Methodist Church, told the council the policy was "necessary due to the climate we are in today" and urged the council to pursue a local law rather than only a policy. Multiple residents, including Cynthia Knox and Anne Jackley, asked the city to provide the policy and related materials in Spanish.
The adopted policy states that the City of Peekskill and the Peekskill Police Department (PPD) will not inquire about or investigate an individual’s immigration status except where required by a judicial warrant, a specific statutory exception, or with voluntary, informed consent. It bars use of city facilities, funds or personnel "for detecting or apprehending individuals based solely on their actual or suspected Citizenship or Immigration Status," and specifies that the PPD should not delay release from custody for civil immigration detainers or notification requests unless there is a judicial warrant.
The policy requires written materials, preapproved by the City Manager and made available in English and Spanish, to notify individuals in custody that interviews with federal immigration authorities are voluntary and that detainees may consult an attorney before speaking. It also directs the City Manager to submit an annual public report to the Common Council summarizing ICE requests, actions taken, and any violations and corrective actions.
During council discussion, several members asked whether the council could instead adopt a local law. Eric Gordon answered that the council may adopt the resolution now and later consider a local law; he also addressed questions about collective bargaining and operational implications. The resolution adopting the policy (J-17) passed unanimously.
Residents at the hearing repeatedly asked the council to move from a policy to a law and to adopt stronger local protections; council members and staff indicated that further legislative steps could be considered after the policy is implemented. Implementation steps in the resolution direct the City Manager and City Attorney to take actions required to put the policy into effect.
