Helenans push for stricter ICE policy after Minnesota shooting

Less than a week after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer killed a Minnesota woman and sparked national outcry, several Helenans demanded the city take a tougher stance on ICE.

"We want to feel safe in our community," public commenter Julia Cotter said at Monday's City Commission meeting. "We want to feel protected.”'

On Jan. 7, Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, prompting a nationwide debate on whether the ICE agent killed an innocent woman or if the agent was defending himself against a woman using her vehicle as a weapon. A vigil was held for her Friday in Helena.

On Monday, the 18 public commenters at the Helena meeting pushed for edits to a resolution Helena has been crafting since fall, setting the Commission's stance for future Helena Police and ICE interactions.

The conversation was started in July when a Helena resident, Christopher Martinez, was detained by ICE after an HPD traffic stop. He was not a United States citizen and later voluntarily left the country.

The initial draft presented at a Dec. 17 administrative meeting stated the City Commission would not support a 287(g) agreement, saying local enforcement would focus on local jurisdiction.

It also pushed for HPD not to disclose sensitive information, such as an arrested person’s immigration status, to anyone outside city government unless required by law or a valid court order. Helena police also wouldn’t assist detaining people solely based on immigration status.

Although public commenters appreciated the majority of the resolution, many took issue with Section 4: a policy in which HPD will “attempt to request the identification and unmasking” of ICE agents but will “not otherwise interfere.”

At the meeting, city officials explained that hard rules can rob HPD of agency during more sensitive situations.

Local activist organizations Montana For Palestine and Waking Giant took the lead on drafting specific edits. The most widely supported change asks HPD to take a stronger stance on unmasking ICE agents.

At a Jan. 12 City Commission meeting, those protests returned with added fervor, demanding HPD be less “wishy-washy” in asking ICE to unmask. Commission Chamber pews were packed with attendees.

Multiple commenters warned of people impersonating ICE. While the public understood Helena didn’t have authority over federal agents, it said HPD had an obligation to push for local safety.

If law enforcement can’t be identified, how could children trust them to be legitimate, some asked. Several condemned ICE's actions, referencing the killing of Good on Jan. 7.

“I daily see children who are very scared and traumatized at the actions of ICE,” public commenter Susan Anderson said.

Others commenting said ICE posed a threat to the faith Helenans had in Helena police.

“True public servants do not hide their faces,” Phil Robison said.

When Montana For Palestine’s Lily Clarke asked who was in favor of proposed edits, the majority of attendees raised their hands.

The resolution hasn't been officially approved, and it is scheduled to go in front of the City Commission on Jan. 26.

When City Commissioners Melinda Reed and Julia Gustafson asked how edits could be proposed, City Attorney Rebecca Dockter said they could be emailed to her or proposed at the Jan. 26 meeting.

A prior email would be more time efficient, Dockter said. She warned that more “robust” edits may need extra consideration.