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City manager tells crowd Whittier does not support ICE activity as dozens speak at council meeting
Summary
Dozens of residents delivered public comment at the June 10 Whittier City Council meeting; City Manager Conal McNamara said ICE did not give advance notice of activity, the City has no contract with ICE and the Whittier Police Department does not ask about immigration status.
Dozens of Whittier residents filled the lectern and the record at the June 10 City Council meeting, pressing elected officials during a lengthy public-comment period and prompting a public clarification from city staff.
City Manager Conal McNamara told the council and attendees that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not notify the City in advance of activity, that "the City does not support ICE activity," and that the City has no contract with ICE. McNamara added that detainees are not housed in the City jail and that the Whittier Police Department "does not ask questions about immigration status," and he said the City respects residents' rights to peaceful protest.
Mayor Joseph A. Vinatieri opened the public-comment period and noted that comments related to public-hearing items would be heard during those hearings. The meeting record lists a long roster of live commenters and notes that all submitted comments and documents are part of the official record and on file with the City Clerk. A video of the oral communications is available through the City's website.
Nolan Carter provided a live public comment during the public hearing on the FY2025-26 budget later in the agenda. The City did not record telephone or Zoom public commenters for this meeting and staff said all written submissions were forwarded to council members and retained by the City Clerk.
The City Manager's remarks were presented during the regular session as staff and elected officials moved through the agenda; the council did not take a formal vote on any enforcement action related to immigration at the June 10 meeting.
