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On September 11, the Greenbelt City Council confirmed the policy behind the draft executive order governing interactions with federal immigration agencies. They looked at whether it sufficiently protects otherwise law-abiding undocumented immigrants, some of whom have children who are U.S. citizens. Council also briefly discussed the absence of the Miss Greenbelt pageant from the Labor Day festivities and the result of an Open Meetings complaint regarding late posting of Advisory Planning Board (APB) minutes. ICE Requests After a lengthy discussion, council confirmed the policy underlying the city’s General Order regarding “Cooperation with Federal Immigration Agents and Agencies” on a 4 to 2 vote with Councilmembers Rodney Roberts and Colin Byrd opposed. The Order directs Greenbelt’s police officers not to grant U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) requests to detain an individual in their custody unless a judicial warrant (issued by a court) exists or the individual is listed on the Immigration Violator File as a deported felon. Other restrictions include: police should not ask immigration status except in rare circumstances and officers participating in a federal taskforce can assist it only if the primary focus of the investigation does not involve the enforcement of federal civil immigration law. Councilmember Roberts had initially moved to confirm the policy reflected in the General Order. After hearing several speakers address their fears and concerns, he attempted to withdraw his motion, stating that it was apparent that the community still had some concerns about the city’s policy. However, since Councilmember Judith Davis did not agree to withdraw her second, the motion was still alive and was eventually approved as described above.
A good-sized crowd was still in place as Mayor Emmett Jordan opened the floor to comments. Many were Hispanic residents who remained concerned that they could be arrested and taken away from their homes and children, who often were U.S. citizens. CASA de Maryland representative, Trent Lierman, translated for presenters commenting in Spanish.
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