Gallatin county residents speak out against ICE agreement

Gallatin County residents are increasingly worried about the safety of their friends and neighbors from the continued involvement of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in county law enforcement.

“They’re kidnapping people off the streets of our country and out of their homes and workplaces," said Katy Osterloth standing at the podium during the Gallatin County Commission meeting on Tuesday. "They’re detaining them without due process rights that we’re all afforded by the Constitution. They have shot Americans in the street, given people brain injuries and other permanent health problems, destroyed property and left children orphaned."

Osterloth was the first person to make a public comment against Gallatin County’s 287(g) agreement with ICE during the meeting.

14 others spoke against Gallatin County’s 287(g) agreement with ICE, part of a larger group of residents protesting outside the courthouse before the meeting. The memorandum between ICE and the Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office allows ICE to keep detainees in county jails and correctional facilities.

The memorandum terms individuals wanted by ICE as "aliens" four times. The Sheriff's Office can hold them for 48 hours before they're picked up and transported by agents to immigration detention centers.

Arguing ICE is “functioning outside the normal processes of oversight that allow checks on the power of a law enforcement agency," Osterloth urged the commissioners to cancel the agreement.

“The agreement as it stands means our Sherriff's office is helping ICE to violate people’s civil rights and deny them the individual dignity that is supposed to be guaranteed by our Montana constitution,” said Bozeman resident Bill Porter, before telling the commissioners to revoke the agreement.

Bozeman resident Julia Shaida argued the agreement is invalid.

“I urge the commissioners to not approve a new agreement,” Shaida said.

Shaida is a plaintiff in a lawsuit against Gallatin County, alleging that the 287(g) 2020 agreement was never officially approved by the commission. The county commissioners received an order to show cause at the 18th Judicial District court on Thursday morning. An order to show cause is a court directive requiring a party to defend their position.

Shaida told The Chronicle that she wants Gallatin County residents to know that there's "real harm being done week after week" to "aliens" detained by ICE.