WORCESTER – City Manager Eric Batista issued an executive order on Wednesday, Feb. 4, that amends the order he issued in May related to the city’s response to and interaction with federal immigration enforcement.
“The City of Worcester is watching the horrific events play out across the country as ICE continues to wreak havoc on communities with no regard for humanity, and I want to reaffirm the policy in place for how our municipality is to interact with federal agents,” said City Manager Eric D. Batista. The City of Worcester celebrates and welcomes all of its residents, including our vibrant immigration population, and will stand united to ensure we remain a welcoming and inclusive city for all.”
The amended executive order includes four new provisions to its police, which are effective immediately.
- The municipality prohibits use of its property, including open space, parking lots, garages, parks, or buildings, including the interior or exterior areas of any parcel upon which a building is located, for staging and prepping of federal civil immigration enforcement actions. Prohibited uses include but are not limited to assembling, mobilizing, or deploying vehicles, equipment, materials, or personnel for the purpose of carrying out federal civil immigration enforcement operations.
- The municipality shall not enter into any 287(g) agreements.
- When responding to calls related to ICE activity, the WPD shall take reasonable steps to verify that the individuals on scene are federal agents and gather relevant information.
- Any footage captured on WPD body-worn cameras of federal agents engaged in a civil immigration enforcement shall be made publicly available.
Prohibiting federal agents from using municipal property is a tactic used in other cities.cities. Providence Mayor Breatt Smiley issued a similar orderl on Jan. 20
The executive order Batista issued in May established the following policies:
- Municipal employees and WPD officers shall not inquire about immigration status nor shall immigration status impact the treatment of a resident, victim, suspect, arrestee, 911 caller, or another member of the public with whom a municipal employee has contact.
- WPD shall not initiate investigations or take law enforcement action solely on the basis of immigration status, including without limitation, the initiation of a stop, an apprehension, or arrest. No person will be arrested or held by the WPD solely on the basis of a federal civil immigration detainer, including extending the length of detention by any amount of time once an individual is released from local custody, or before being transferred to court or admitted to bail.
- WPD will not assist any agency for matters solely based on civil federal immigration enforcement.
- Municipal employees will not allow ICE agents access to records, information, or non-public areas of municipal buildings for the enforcement of federal civil immigration laws.
- Employees must report ICE agents at any municipal building.
