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Residents say ICE enforcement at local Walmart unsettled community; council hears reports from police
Summary
Public commenters described fear and disruption after a reported ICE enforcement action; Chief Stacy Kelly told council two people were detained in an operation at a Walmart at about 11 a.m., and said local agencies were not notified.
Residents told the Astoria City Council on Dec. 1 that recent federal enforcement actions have generated fear and second-order harms in the community, including impacts on school attendance and on workers' ability to go to their jobs.
Norma Hernandez described a stressed community and said the two people detained earlier that day were working to fulfill delivery orders: “They were picking groceries to go delivered. So that is happening in our community and that is not a rumor. That is a fact,” she said. Mike Brocious told the council that children and bus drivers were affected, urging the city to consider indirect impacts when developing a strategy. Chief Stacy Kelly told the council the operation at the Walmart occurred at roughly 11 a.m., that agents used unmarked vehicles but displayed emergency lights and wore vests, and that two people were removed from vehicles; Kelly said local dispatch and the sheriff’s office were not notified before or after the operation.
Council members described the resolution the council adopted that evening as a first step to address community concerns and said they would work with the city attorney and county partners on possible next steps.
