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Missoula mayor and police chief say city police will not perform immigration enforcement
Summary
Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis and Police Chief Mike Collier told city leaders and the community the Missoula Police Department does not carry out immigration enforcement and will not ask for proof of immigration status during routine interactions, while urging respect for constitutional rights and due process.
Missoula Mayor Andrea Davis and Police Chief Mike Collier issued public assurances that the city’s police department does not perform immigration enforcement and aims to uphold due process for everyone, Scott Grama reported on Wake Up Missoula.
Davis was quoted by the program saying, “the city of Missoula values our constitutional rights, and we hope to uphold due process for everyone.” The host relayed the mayor’s statement that the Missoula Police Department “does not have a role in immigration enforcement.”
Chief Mike Collier, also quoted in the program, cautioned that aggressive federal tactics could erode trust in local officers. “I am concerned that the people will see federal immigration enforcement officers act in ways they don’t approve of, and we'll lump together all law enforcement as untrustworthy,” Collier was reported to have said. The chief’s remarks, as presented on the program, described tactics reported nationally — unmarked vehicles, covered faces and equipment without clear identification — and said they are “strictly prohibited by the police department of Missoula.”
The host noted Collier’s statement that Missoula officers wear masks only for limited reasons such as health emergencies or severe weather and that officers display name tags and generally avoid unmarked cars for enforcement so residents can identify police.
Why it matters: the statements come amid national reports of immigration enforcement actions that have raised local concern. The host said the mayor and city leaders held roundtables with county attorneys, sheriffs, immigration attorneys and nonprofit groups to discuss community concerns and reassure residents about local police practices.
What’s next: the statements were presented as official policy guidance by local leaders on the radio program. The broadcast did not record direct remarks from the mayor or the police chief at the station; the program relayed their statements and said those leaders have held meetings with legal and community partners to discuss local impacts.
