As federal immigration agents continue to arrest people across Massachusetts, Worcester city leaders are reaffirming that local police will not assist U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement.
Hundreds of police departments nationwide have joined the federal 287g program, which allows local officers to partner with ICE on immigration enforcement efforts and use local jail space for detainees. Worcester city councilors passed a resolution Tuesday night barring the Worcester Police Department from entering into that program.
The measure was mainly symbolic because state law restricts local authorities from working with ICE to detain people solely because of their immigration status. Still, in a city where nearly a quarter of residents are foreign-born, councilors said the resolution sends a message that Worcester doesn’t seek to harm immigrants.
“Today, we have an opportunity to reaffirm our values and stand with our immigrant neighbors,” said Councilor Khrystian King, who proposed the measure. “Let’s be the kind of city that leads with compassion, justice, and inclusion.”
Other councilors said the resolution was necessary to clarify the city’s stance on immigration enforcement.
After an ICE operation in May, activists accused Worcester police of cooperating with immigration agents and city leaders of not doing enough to protect the immigrant community. In response, City Manager Eric Batista — who oversees the police department — issued an executive order affirming that Worcester police will not work with ICE or inquire about people’s immigration status.
During the meeting Tuesday, Batista noted that federal immigration agents have since asked Worcester police for help during at least one immigration operation. Batista said ICE agents wanted police to tow a car belonging to someone they were detaining.
“We refused to provide that service to them, and we basically told them not to reach out anymore on that issue,” he said.
Donna Colorio and Morris Bergman were the only Worcester councilors who voted against the resolution prohibiting police from entering into the 287g taskforce program. Bergman said it wasn’t necessary because the Worcester Police Department isn’t considering an agreement with ICE.
“I’m not going to vote on a hypothetical or an imaginary premise,” he said. “There’s nothing to oppose because nothing has happened.”
Mayor Joseph Petty, who chairs the council, acknowledged the resolution was mainly symbolic. However, he got emotional while discussing how some people in Worcester aren’t going to the doctor or to school because they’re afraid they’ll encounter ICE agents. Petty said the city’s immigrant communities need to know that Worcester cares about them.
“These aren’t criminals,” said Petty, who at one point appeared to choke up. “These are just people who came for a better life.”
