In the lead-up to the Plymouth Select Board Meeting on January 6th, the Plymouth Police Department has released a FAQ document clarifying its immigration policy, addressing concerns about cooperation with federal immigration law enforcement and the rights of immigrants in encounters with local police. The document, shared through a social media post, aims to provide transparency and ensure the community understands how the police department interacts with immigration issues.
According to the FAQ, the Plymouth Police Department (PPD) adheres to state and federal law and assures that constitutional protections apply to all, irrespective of immigration status, despite keeping in step with guidance from the Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association, community members can rest assured knowing the PPD won’t detain individuals based solely on their immigration status, aligning with the Commonwealth v. Lunn precedent. Moreover, the department has stated unequivocally that it will neither inquire about immigration status nor enforce federal immigration laws during routine policing duties, such as traffic stops, nor during situations where individuals are reporting a crime, witnessing, or falling victim to criminal acts.
The policy stipulates that while the PPD may inform Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) about detentions following court decisions, it is not within their purview to hold an individual based on federal civil immigration detainers, as clearly outlined in the FAQ. Addressing concerns over student privacy, the PPD assures there is no exchange of immigration status information between the Plymouth School Department and police officers during interactions with students. In cases of federal enforcement actions, PPD officers may accompany ICE agents to ensure public safety, but are not permitted to arrest or detain solely on an ICE civil immigration detainer, nor can they enforce immigration laws unless explicitly authorized by law.
For those seeking information on individuals detained by ICE, the Plymouth PD directs towards various resources, including the ICE online detainee locator system and the Boston ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations Field Office, but the PPD may not have comprehensive knowledge of federal law enforcement activities within its jurisdiction as ICE operations do not necessitate prior notification to local authorities, though they sometimes do request local assistance both entities are seemingly operating within their deck-appointed boundaries and maintaining separate, yet occasionally intersecting, jurisdictional paths.
As the community prepares for the Select Board Meeting, the PPD has encouraged residents to review the FAQ to stay informed, and with a commitment to equal law enforcement and service to all members of the community, the department continues to navigate the complex interplay between local responsibilities and federal immigration laws.
