Town Has No Easy Answers for Dealing with ICE

Report on the Special Meeting of the Town Council with the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee and the Human Rights Commission, June 8, 2026

This hybrid meeting was held in the Town Room of Town Hall and was recorded.

This meeting was called at the request of the Community Safety and Social Justice Committee (CSSJC) and the Human Rights Commission (HRC), seeking responses from the town manager and Town Council to a long list of concerns: threats to community safety posed by federal immigration enforcement agents; shortcomings of the town manager’s executive order prohibiting town employees from collaborating with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement); the town’s failure to enact the 2022 recommendations of the Community Safety Working Group (CSWG); and growing feelings of insecurity among the town’s most marginalized residents.

Town Manager and Police Chief Say Their Hands Are Tied
Despite heartfelt pleas from community members, Town Manager Paul Bockelman and Amherst Police Department (APD) Chief Gabe Ting maintained that the town cannot interfere with federal immigration officers. Ting said this is a dilemma facing all municipalities in the state, and that area police departments are working with the attorney general’s office to clarify what police can and cannot do.

On Feb. 23, the Town Council passed a resolution calling for federal immigration agents to be held accountable for violations of Massachusetts criminal law. This was followed by an executive order affirming that municipal employees will not cooperate with or participate in federal immigration enforcement. However, neither action protects those targeted by federal officers. Both Bockelman and Ting said the town will document and report illegal actions by federal agents and maintain public safety, but that prosecution of those actions will fall to the district attorney and attorney general.

In a nine-page memo addressing questions raised by councilors and members of the CSSJC and HRC, Bockelman stated: “Arrest warrants issued by a judge constitute mandatory, or ‘shall arrest,’ orders. Failure to comply with a judicial order could place a department in contempt of court. If ICE is responsible for executing a warrant, APD’s role remains limited to public safety functions and maintaining order. Federal agencies possess federal authority during federal operations. APD cannot interfere with lawful federal actions. Questions involving potential state criminal violations by federal agents would be ultimately reviewed by the [Northwest District Attorney] NWDA and potentially the attorney general.”

Bockelman said he attempted to align the town’s policy with that of the governor. Gov. Maura Healey issued new guidelines for protecting people from ICE on May 28 that have not yet been incorporated into the town’s policy. The town attorney is currently reviewing the new guidance.

Ting’s presentation asserted that interfering with federal agents would constitute obstruction of justice and could subject a police officer to arrest and possible termination. Bockelman stated that the town carries insurance to protect employees from legal action, but that this does not cover criminal complaints.

Ting acknowledged that the current situation is unlike anything the APD has faced before. Unlike with other officials, there is no federal database of ICE agents that police can search to verify whether someone is a legitimate federal employee. He said: “I sympathize with what you’re saying. I, too, am an immigrant. I’m a product of this community. I grew up in this town, I love this community. But I also have a job to do, and that job is to protect everyone — and we have to abide by these rules and these laws. Otherwise, we are not a legitimate institution.”

Although it has been documented that the APD shared information with ICE, Ting explained there was only one such instance, and that it was to help two crime victims who needed visas to remain in the country to continue their case in court. Otherwise, he maintained, “there’s been zero collaboration with ICE. We have a strict policy on it, and this policy has been in effect for decades.”

Other areas were murkier. Attendees asked what would happen if ICE tried to enter a school, a religious institution, or a medical facility. Even though Amherst has been a sanctuary city since 2017, the protections previously afforded to those spaces no longer apply. Bockelman said the schools have their own policy, but that it most likely involves calling police if federal officers seek to enter a school or board a school bus. Ting mentioned a tabletop exercise held with Amherst College in March to work through scenarios involving ICE activity on campus or in town, and said the APD is planning another exercise with partners at UMass Amherst, Amherst College, and the State Police focused on mutual aid for ICE activity.

Much Public Angst
Bockelman and Ting acknowledged the fear and anger expressed in comments and questions from councilors, members of the CSSJC and HRC, and members of the public.

Human Rights Commission Chair Rani Parker said town residents need to know whether their rights will be protected. “What town residents need to know is whether, as a matter of policy, the town will take action against immigration agents who are acting beyond their authority, breaking the law — federal, state, and local — or otherwise endangering the public,” she said. “This means no more than applying the town’s policing authority — the very same authority asserted in every other local circumstance — to federal immigration agents. Breaches by these agents might include conducting raids while wearing masks, entering non-public spaces without judicial warrants, pursuing or detaining people without probable cause (including threatening to imprison or deport individuals with no criminal record), disturbing the peace, and using excessive force.” (Read Parker’s full comment here.)

CSSJC member Debora Ferreira said she knew of at least two people taken from the community by ICE — one deported, the other in detention. “People are being impacted,” she said. “You’re telling me we have an executive order with no teeth.” She noted that police arrest many BIPOC residents, yet “federal agents come in here and violate the law and you all are just going to observe, take pictures, and document, while people are suffering and being taken away violently?” She asked why the lives and careers of police officers should take precedence over the lives of immigrants.

CSSJC member Anna Derby said she knew of three instances of people self-deporting because they do not feel safe. She asked whether the APD could notify the LUCE Immigrant Hotline of ICE activity in town, but Ting said police cannot share information with a nongovernmental organization — though they could inform the town manager, who could determine whether others in town need to be notified.

Parker spoke of her fear that she will be stopped while driving so she always carries her passport and the number for LUCE with her. HRC member Rizwana Khan asked for performance measures for how the town is abiding by the Executive Order and council resolution.

HRC member Milan Clark wanted to know how the APD would respond if a U.S. citizen was being stopped by ICE. Ting replied that the police would verify the resident’s information. He noted that the APD has cruiser cameras and departmental cell phones to document ICE activity, but not body cameras.

Town Councilor Amber Cano-Martin asked about possible interference by federal agents in peaceful demonstrations. Both Ting and Bockelman said Amherst prides itself on protecting free speech and allowing demonstrations, with police maintaining a low-key presence. Bockelman said the town tries to use CRESS responders to monitor protests and provide information to participants. Cano-Martin reminded them of the pro-Palestinian protests at UMass in May 2023, when 134 people were arrested for peaceful protest. Ting stated that the APD remained on the perimeter and did not participate in the enforcement.

Ting said the situation with ICE is evolving and the town continues to seek guidance. The department has been pressing the attorney general’s office for more information and is collaborating with other Western Massachusetts towns, “but to give you that definite answer, if we’re going to enforce in a certain way — no, we’re not going to cross those boundaries until the law allows us to.”

Public Pleads for Protection of Residents
Katie Lazdowski noted that in his executive order, Bockelman states that the APD cannot commit in advance to a specific course of action in an imagined scenario — but, she said, “there is nothing imagined about the threat ICE poses to our community. Immigrants are already living in fear.” She called for “clear, specific protocols ensuring total non-cooperation from the APD with ICE.”

John Bonifaz noted that Northwest District Attorney David Sullivan issued a statement in January saying that no one is above the law and that he will hold federal agents accountable for any unlawful actions. “Why is our chief of police not saying the same thing? Why is our town manager not saying the same thing?” Bonifaz asked. He added that the Town Council resolution clearly called for protocols to protect residents against unlawful actions by federal agents, but that none have been established.

Lissa Pierce Bonifaz spoke on behalf of Fort River Elementary School families affected by ICE activity. She sought assurance that the town would prevent ICE from using school property and asked for a clear protocol for responding if federal agents appear at schools.

Marisol Pierce Bonifaz, a student at Columbia University, described an incident in which ICE entered her dormitory at 6:30 a.m. and detained a student.

Artie McCollum asked that CRESS hours be extended, as its responders are best equipped to assist residents living in fear of immigration enforcement.

Margaret Smith recommended that the town create an online tool for residents to submit evidence of criminal acts committed by federal agents.

Little Progress on CSWG Recommendations Over the Past Year
In the second half of the meeting, CSSJC members reported to the Town Council that little progress has been made since their last report in November on fulfilling the 2022 Community Safety Working Group (CSWG) recommendations passed by the council. CSSJC co-chairs Ferreira and Allegra Clark noted that no budget has been allocated to increase the number or hours of CRESS responders, that no progress has been made on creating a Youth Empowerment Center or a Multicultural Center, and that a Resident Oversight Board for the APD has still not been established.

Ferreira charged that there has been “active sabotage” of CRESS, which still receives only 2% of calls from dispatch and still operates only from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., despite data showing that need peaks between 4 p.m. and midnight. She praised some youth programming offered by the Recreation Department but said there is still no dedicated space for young people — especially BIPOC youth — to gather, calling that a public safety issue.

She also noted that a review of public safety protocols was to be undertaken when the new police chief was hired, but has not occurred, even though it was included in the town manager’s goals for 2026.

The CSSJC urged the town manager to resume attending their meetings, as he did until early 2023, and emphasized the need for a multicultural center, equitable support of BIPOC-owned businesses, protection of immigrant communities, a response to the racist letter circulated against Black residents, equitable use of opioid settlement funds, and access to robust translation services.

CSSJC member Erica Piedade added: “If we really want to invest in public safety, let’s look at reallocating resources to meaningful, impactful programs like CRESS, DEI, the Fire Department, and public health. I suggest that we take a broader look at who gets protected and how we can prevent the feeling of not being safe in this community.”

CSSJC member Everald Henry also stressed the importance of CRESS. “Fully funding CRESS by the original design frees up the APD to focus on other things. When the police show up, they have very limited options, and that is problematic. If you have a community that’s living in the shadows, that don’t go anywhere, there is an impact to the community. It impacts people’s mental health, and it impacts our economy.” He advocated for adequate funding of CRESS to address the stress many residents are experiencing.

Town councilors responded to the presentation with further questions for the town manager. Jennifer Taub (District 4) asked why CRESS was receiving so few calls from dispatch. Andy Churchill (at large) asked why CRESS hours could not be adjusted to better align with demand. Amber Cano-Martin (District 2) asked whether the council can act on revising certain APD policies.

Town Councilor Jill Brevik (District 1) asked what became of the $50,000 allocated for the Youth Empowerment Center out of the $500,000 in ARPA funds already spent. Bockelman replied that the money was used to evaluate possible sites for the center, but Ferreira said the CSSJC has never been informed of the evaluation’s findings.

Sam MacLeod (District 5) reflected on the role the Boys & Girls Club played when he was growing up in Amherst and the importance of having a place for young people to gather. He suggested Wildwood School as an ideal location for a youth center.

Bockelman said he will attempt to respond to the concerns raised by the CSSJC and councilors at a future meeting.