Helena City to hold special meeting about immigration-enforcement dispute with Governor

HELENA, Mont. – The Helena City Commission will host a meeting to discuss a cease-and-desist letter from the Attorney General regarding the City’s Jan. resolution relating to immigration-related enforcement.

The meeting will take place on March 26 at 5:30 p.m. in the Civic Center auditorium, with the option to join online using Zoom as well.

Commissioner Sean Logan said the special meeting was called for by the Mayor. He also said the City had engaged with outside counsel Natasha Jones of Boopne Karlberg in Missoula.

“City staff are complying with the Attorney General’s requests by providing additional explanations and relevant public documents,” Logan wrote.

The cease and desist letter came weeks after Governor Greg Gianforte and Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced an investigation into the City of Helena and the Helena Police Department for possible violations of state law.

During the meeting, Knudsen said the City of Helena could be fined up to $10,000 every five days if it is found to be in violation of state law.

The City would also be at risk of losing funding from the Department of Commerce, including Coal Ward funding if a violation is found, Knudsen said.

Knudsen said the violations relate to Helena's Resolution No. 21062, which supports City and Helena Police Department policies affirming refusal to share collected immigration with federal agents, with exceptions during receipt of a valid court order.

In his cease-and-desist letter, Knudsen said the resolution is in “blatant violation” to a Montana law prohibiting state or local agencies from enacting laws against helping federal immigration enforcement.