Dozens of Henderson residents urge council to end ICE MOU; council takes no action

Dozens of Henderson residents used the council’s final public-comment period to call on elected officials to terminate the city’s Memorandum of Understanding with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), arguing the partnership harms immigrant families, undermines trust in local policing and costs the city money. The council completed agenda business — including adoption of two ordinances and an appointment — but did not take formal action on the ICE agreement.

Speakers during the public-comment period described a pattern of fear and family disruption they attributed to ICE activity and the presence of the Henderson Detention Center on Water Street. "Using our taxpayer funds for this isn't just morally wrong but is one of the biggest threats to community safety," said Alex Parizlani, who urged the council to "terminate the ... understanding that this city has with ICE to hold detainees at the Henderson Detention Center and cease any cooperation with ICE." Several speakers referenced recent national incidents and alleged injuries and deaths in ICE custody as evidence the city should withdraw from the agreement.

Other residents framed the issue as fiscal as well as moral. Joseph Ginty summarized contract history and budget figures, saying federal reimbursement per detainee rose to $106 per day while the city’s internal cost to detain someone is listed in the city budget as $288 per day; he estimated that the difference, multiplied by average daily ICE detainees in local reporting, amounts to roughly $6 million per year that could be used for local services. "You could save $6,000,000 a year," Ginty said.

Several local educators and parents, including Dr. Marcela Rodriguez Campo, described schoolchildren affected when parents are detained and urged council members to prioritize community stability. "I witnessed how across the country people who merely look like me are being picked up and disappeared off the street," Rodriguez Campo said, identifying herself as a Henderson resident who worked in education. Dozens of other residents — veterans, trafficking survivors, longtime Water Street residents and small-business owners — shared personal accounts and urged the council to place the MOU on a future agenda or to begin a phased withdrawal from detention cooperation.

Not all speakers urged termination. Kimberly Johnston characterized the public protests as an "ICE agitation campaign" and urged the council to preserve law-enforcement partnerships; Don Hall and other commenters defended federal agents’ training and service to public safety. The council heard both viewpoints during the recorded comment period.

While the meeting included routine business — the city manager’s report, unanimous votes to accept the agenda and pass the consent agenda, adoption of two bills recommended as ordinances (Item 22 — bill 3905 → Ordinance No. 4143; Item 23 — bill 3906 → Ordinance No. 4144) and an appointment of Councilman Dan Stewart to the Clark County School District oversight panel (appointment carried with Councilwoman Cox recorded as voting no) — council members did not place the ICE MOU on the floor for debate or a vote at this session. The mayor closed public comments and adjourned the meeting.

Votes at a glance: the agenda and consent agenda were approved (motions reported as carried); Item 22 (bill 3905 → Ordinance 4143) and Item 23 (bill 3906 → Ordinance 4144) were recommended for adoption and reported as carried; Item 24 (appointment of Dan Stewart to CCSD oversight panel) was approved with Councilwoman Cox recorded as the lone dissent. The council scheduled its next regular meeting as noted by the mayor.

The public comment record shows substantial community interest in reconsidering the city’s relationship with federal immigration enforcement. Council members did not announce a timeline to address the MOU during the meeting; the public left urging clear next steps.