The Washington County Board meeting at Stillwater has sent a letter to the local delegation of U.S. House and Senate representatives at Washington, D.C., detailing the affect of ICE presence and operations in the county.
Dated for Jan. 29 and drafted following public meetings on Jan. 6 and 13, the letter asserts violation of state law by ICE, several rights violations, a lack of transparency, and fear, making respectful request of the following.
First, the board asks that representatives at Washington ensure that ICE agents comply fully with federal and state laws, second that they maintain open communication regarding ICE activity in the county, third that they oppose any effort to establish an immigration detention center in Washington County, fourth that they ensure disclosure of information related to any proposed detention center, and fifth that the representatives at Washington advocate for meaningful community engagement in the federal decision-making process related to proposed facilities.
“The people of Washington County deserve safety in their neighborhoods and transparency in their government,” the letter states. “Your leadership and oversight are critical to preserving community integrity and ensuring federal accountability.”