National immigration through a Helena lens: Here are 5 government stories worth revisiting

Local outcry about Helena’s role in immigration enforcement began in July when Christopher Martinez, a Helena resident and undocumented immigrant, was detained after a Helena police traffic stop.

It’s coincidental that the Helena City Commission’s resolution against HPD working in immigration came to a head just as two Minneapolis civilians were killed by federal agents.

As local decisions — including HPD’s withdrawal from a multi-agency drug task force — collided with national headlines, January proved to be a powder keg of public comment for Helena’s and East Helena's newly sworn officials.

Here’s a recap on local clashes between the public and its representatives on Helena’s future with immigration.

Helenans push for stricter ICE policy after Minnesota shooting

Jan. 13 — Less than a week after Minneapolis woman Renee Nicole Good was killed in an altercation with ICE agents, several public commenters demanded Helena take a stricter stance on masked law enforcement.

At this point, Helena City Commissioners had been drafting a resolution against immigration enforcement cooperation for months. When an initial draft was posted in December, local activists from organizations like Montana for Palestine and Waking Giant pushed for three major edits: a heavier push to identify federal agents, a racial profiling tracker and disclosure of partnerships between HPD and federal law enforcement.

Although the call for edits had been planned weeks prior, Good's death charged public comment with emotion. The meeting ended with City Commissioners Melinda Reed and newly appointed Julia Gustafson asking about the edit process.

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Helena withdraws from drug task force over Border Patrol membership, East Helena stays on

Jan. 23 — Helena and East Helena went in separate directions when the Missouri River Drug Task Force, a multi-jurisdiction organization, officially added U.S. Border Patrol to its ranks.

HPD temporarily broke away, stating it wanted to stay out of immigration enforcement, whereas East Helena agreed to stay after debate between its police and elected officials. Although it hadn't been announced, HPD withdrew as of Jan. 1, before Minnesota drew national attention.

Lewis and Clark County Sheriff Leo Dutton, who chairs the task force, said Border Patrol's addition wouldn't mean shifting focus from drug trafficking to immigration.

Later that week, Minneapolis man Alex Pretti would be killed by Border Patrol agents.

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Helena Commission votes 4-1 to limit HPD work with federal immigration agents

Jan. 26 — The Helena City Commission officially approved a resolution against HPD's cooperation with federal immigration agents.

Pretti's death was fresh in citizens' minds, coloring two hours of public comment and protests leading up to the meeting. Commissioners went back and forth on precise language of the resolution, opting for a mild edit that gave HPD discretion to ask federal agents identify themselves.

Though the resolution was originally thought up in the wake of Martinez's detainment, Commissioner discussion addressed the national stage. Mayor Emily Dean said the tactics of federal agents have “only sown more chaos and division."

City Commissioner Sean Logan, the sole vote against the resolution, said he didn't want to risk HPD being accused of obstructing federal law enforcement.

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Helena High student walkout protest canceled after homemade explosive found near campus

Jan. 29 — Just 20 minutes before a planned Helena High School walkout protest was about to begin, a homemade explosive was discovered near the school.

Though law enforcement couldn't find any connection between the explosive and the protest, students were distraught when the protest was canceled. Some Capital High students began their own protest on Custer Avenue.

"I'm tired of how wound tight we are as a country," Helena school district Superintendent Rex Weltz said.

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Police chief: Helena’s step away from immigration enforcement is practical, not political

Jan. 30 — Whether it be celebration or condemnation, many public commenters assumed Helena's withdrawal from immigration enforcement was a direct response to Minneapolis headlines. That's inaccurate, Helena Police Chief Brett Petty said in an exclusive interview.

Petty said his decision to split from the MRDTF was solely because HPD didn't have the staffing to work on anything outside of local jurisdiction. He went on to explain what the Helena City Commission's resolution changes, and what it doesn't.

"They can’t have an opinion," Petty said of HPD officers. "They have to be neutral.”

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