Opinion: Local law enforcement should not engage in federal immigration enforcement

To the editor: 

With the impending implementation of Project 2025, and as a Mattapoisett resident, I write to urge the Mattapoisett Police Department to adopt or maintain policies which limit local law enforcement engagement in any federal immigration enforcement in the Tri-Town. Collaborating with federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) diverts critical resources away from public safety efforts, risks eroding trust between law enforcement and immigrant communities and creates fear that prevents residents from reporting crimes or seeking law enforcement assistance.

Although we do not have a large immigrant population in Mattapoisett, local law enforcement’s role should focus on protecting all members of our community regardless of their immigration status. Engaging in immigration enforcement undermines this goal and fosters distrust and fear among our immigrant residents, making it harder for your agency to build partnerships needed to keep our community safe.

Moreover, often when local law enforcement agencies participate in federal immigration enforcement efforts, it leads to concerns about racial profiling, the violation of constitutional rights and potential costly legal challenges which our town cannot afford.

It is also worth noting that federal immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government, not local police.

It is respectfully requested that the Mattapoisett Police Department adopt clear policies which:

1. Continue to bar entering into agreements under Section 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act or other similar programs;
2. Prohibit officers from asking individuals about their immigration status or about sharing information about immigration status with federal authorities;
3. Refrain from honoring ICE detainers or requests to hold individuals beyond their release date without a judicial warrant;
4. Prioritize community policing practices that ensure safety for all residents regardless of their immigration status.

By taking these steps, the Mattapoisett Police Department can strengthen the trust our community places in them, protect some of our more vulnerable residents and focus on their primary mission of safeguarding the public.

We look forward to a public hearing on this matter and discussing it further with our community.

Nicole Demakis, Chair of the Mattapoisett Democratic Town Committee