The ACLU of Hawaiʻi is asking for information about how local police are involved in federal immigration efforts. This comes after a rise in immigration arrests and the approval of the "One Big Beautiful Bill," which provides more funding for immigration enforcement. The group sent public records requests to all county police departments to find out if they have agreements with the Department of Homeland Security, Homeland Security Investigations, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement. They are asking for details about shared resources, including county detention facilities and local officers joining federal operations, according to Big Island Now.
The organization took action after a 585% increase in local Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests, raising concerns about the strain on resources and effects on immigrant communities. ACLU of Hawaiʻi's Legal Director, Wookie Kim, said, "Local governments have a duty to protect their residents—not act as an arm of federal immigration enforcement." Senior Staff Attorney Emily Hills also told Maui Now that it is important for the public to understand how local resources are being used to support federal immigration efforts.
The ACLU of Hawaiʻi is concerned about the legal support and conditions for Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainees being brought to Honolulu from other states. Hawaiʻi’s congressional delegation has asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for more information about immigration enforcement policies, as mentioned by Big Island Now. Hawaiʻi Police Chief Ben Moszkowicz said that while the department shares office space and works with federal task forces, it is not involved in civil immigration enforcement.
