Support our police, and one another

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To the Editor:

We are a small community on an Island. That makes us different from many other communities. One of the qualities that makes us special is our diversity. And in the midst of all our differences, we strive to support and nurture one another. A rich celebration of our history includes people from the Wampanoag tribe, English settlers, whalers, members of the Portuguese community, Quakers, Methodists, Baptists, African Americans, tourists, fishermen, artists, hippies, Brazilians, and more — over the years, people of many backgrounds, economic levels, ethnicities, and interests have lived together in this special place. Sometimes we get along, and sometimes we don’t. Currently the divide in our country also shows up on our Island. There is sometimes anger and separation, but there is also caring and support for one another.

A petition article for town meeting, which is appearing on the warrant for all the Island towns this spring, calls for each town’s selectmen to “authorize law enforcement and all Town officials to refrain from using Town funds and/or resources to enforce federal immigration laws in keeping with current practices, unless presented with a criminal warrant or other evidence of probable cause as required by the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution.”

There have been news articles and discussion about the necessity of this statement, since it really does not change the work our police do.

But what this warrant article does accomplish is to support the police in their work for and with the community. It is the responsibility of the federal government, not local authorities, to enforce immigration law. There is no legal requirement that local agencies respond to a detainer request from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). According to the ACLU, most detainers are not supported by probable cause, and fewer than 1 percent of detainers are accompanied by a judicial warrant. The fact that ICE issues a detainer does not mean that the person is a noncitizen subject to deportation. Without probable cause, many courts are finding that ICE detainers are unconstitutional. Therefore, cities, towns, counties, and states around the U.S. are limiting their collaboration with ICE detainers. Many have passed laws and orders that limit or prohibit police from accepting these detainers, especially without a court order. A statewide bill is pending in Massachusetts.

In the midst of this climate of fear and misinformation, it seems like a good idea to pass this warrant article and show support for our local authorities and the community policing they carry out to keep all of us safe and protected. By doing this we also support one another.

Kathy Laskowski

Oak Bluffs