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Falmouth board debates revised ICE position statement and approves sending a letter to federal delegation
Summary
The Select Board worked through multiple revisions to a position statement on ICE operations, balancing stronger language condemning deaths in custody with calls for law‑enforcement cooperation. The board directed staff to circulate a revised clean draft and voted to send a separate letter to the town's congressional delegation requesting federal action.
The select board revisited its position on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations within town limits and considered a related letter to the town’s federal delegation.
Board members debated the tone and text of a revised position statement: some members insisted on stronger language criticising deaths and alleged mistreatment in ICE custody; others urged adding text to encourage "collegial sharing of information and cooperation" between federal and local law enforcement, and requested explicit language clarifying that notification should go to the local police chief to help protect public safety. Several members also asked for language making clear that judicial warrants for criminal arrests would be respected in town.
Vice Chair Dr. Goldstone and others said staff would produce a clean revised draft within days that incorporates the board’s directions. Separately, the board voted to send a letter to the congressional delegation asking for federal action in areas flagged by the board and to express the town’s concerns.
The board also discussed possible signage and the limits of municipal authority in prohibiting federal enforcement on private property; town counsel advised that some locations (for example public schools) may be governed by other entities and that state action pending in the legislature could affect local authority.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a redrafted position statement for the board's consideration and will send the approved letter to federal representatives.
