Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Enforcement topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Malden council refers order limiting municipal cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to Public Safety Committee
Summary
Following extensive public comment and a police chief briefing, the Malden City Council voted to send Order 72-26—directing city employees not to assist federal immigration enforcement 'to the maximum extent permitted by law'—to the Public Safety Committee for further drafting and public hearings.
The Malden City Council on Jan. 27 referred an order intended to limit municipal cooperation with federal immigration enforcement to its Public Safety Committee after hours of public comment, written submissions and debate.
The order, introduced by Councilors Carrie McDonald and Steven Winslow and numbered 72-26, states that “as a diverse and immigrant-rich community, the limited resources of the city of Malden shall be fully dedicated to address the local needs and priorities of Malden’s residents, businesses, and visitors,” and that “no city employees, departments, appointees, processes, or representatives shall assist in fulfilling the unique and separate responsibilities of the federal government, including immigration enforcement, or cooperate with any federal agencies or policies contrary to the stated goal of this order.”
Supporters pointed to recent federal enforcement actions elsewhere and urged the council to protect trust between immigrant communities and local government. “I’m proud to live in a city where we have such a diverse population,” public commenter Alana Russell said during the meeting, reading her prepared remarks in support of the order.
Sponsors said the order’s intent is to clarify city practice and to deter local cooperation with federal immigration actions while preserving legal obligations and existing contracts. “This is not about Minneapolis. It’s about Malden,” Councilor McDonald told colleagues, describing recent local incidents and saying the measure was intended to “make it very clear where we stand and what the baseline expectation for the limited resources and capacity of the city of Malden” should be.
Police leadership urged caution. The Malden Police chief told the council that while the department “strives to protect the rights and dignity of all members of our community,” the order’s current language could clash with state law, accreditation requirements and routine federal partnerships that serve public-safety functions. “A categorical prohibition on assisting or cooperating with federal agencies risks intentionally impairing critical functions,” the chief said.
Council members from across the chamber voiced competing priorities: some called for an expedited, strong statement of solidarity with immigrant residents, while others warned that broad language could unintentionally disrupt grant programs, mutual-aid arrangements and law-enforcement task forces. Several councilors urged a careful rewrite and public hearings.
After discussion, the council voted to refer Order 72-26 to the Public Safety Committee for further review and amendment so that legal and operational boundaries can be clarified and the public can be heard; the referral passed on a roll-call vote.
