Federal immigration enforcement

Pastor of St. Paul's Lutheran Church urged the board to uphold the rule of law, citing court rulings against ICE detentions and a joint letter from national church leaders calling for due process and humane immigration policy.

Speaking for the Community Resource Center, described surging fear among Port Chester immigrant families, two clients detained after routine traffic stops, and asked for a public meeting, written ICE-cooperation standards, and reaffirmation that local police focus on local safety.

Representing the NAACP's Port Chester/Rye branch and its national 'Dry ICE' campaign, read a six-point residents' bill of rights and asked the board to clearly reject 287(g) cooperation with ICE.

CEO of the Port Chester Carver Center described staff and families worn down by fear and asked the board to adopt the bill of rights and support all residents with compassion and dignity.

Argued the village invites peril by accommodating ICE, citing shootings by federal immigration agents and a list of controversial presidential pardons, and urged protection of all neighbors.

Former trustee compared current enforcement to slave patrols, said residents cannot count on elected leaders, and urged the board to meet with community leaders and clergy and demonstrate conscience.

A Jewish legislator who came to listen said the treatment of immigrants echoes the Holocaust era and urged the community to stand up to masked, untrained federal forces.