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GOEAC-27 Page 2 March 18, 2025 <br />they otherwise cannot do. Assistant Chief Bird said it allows them to work investigations with their Federal <br />partners and use Federal resources and tools that HPD doesn't have. <br />Committee Member Ashley Kierkiewicz requested more time for Council members and community to review <br />these documents and suggest amendments. She also mentioned State House Bill 22 that addresses immigration <br />concerns is advancing at the State Legislature. <br />Committee Member Holeka Inaba stated that if there were no concerns around the existing agreements, then he <br />suggested that additional clarifying language in the Resolution that refers to the specific agreements may <br />address the concerns so that members aren't authorizing something they aren't aware of. Committee Chair <br />Jenn Kagiwada stated that she had heard concerns around language within the existing agreements. <br />Chair Kagiwada then asked Liza Ryan Gill, Executive Director of the Hawaii Coalition for Immigrant Rights, <br />via Zoom, to explain further the point Assistant Chief Bird had made regarding the purpose clause within the <br />MOU, as recently Homeland Security's purpose has changed. Ms. Ryan Gill said that from recent meetings <br />with the new and outgoing Special Agent in charge of investigations at HSI (Homeland Security <br />Investigations), they received confirmation that some of HSI priorities have changed in the last month. They <br />were previously prioritizing cybersecurity, but now with the mandates that have come down from new <br />executive orders at the Federal government, they are now responsible for and taking the lead on deportations. <br />As their priorities have shifted, a major concern would be wondering if they are expecting HPD to shift <br />priorities as well. <br />Committee Member Heather Kimball said that she is in favor of postponement to the Call of the Chair to give <br />all involved time to work on additional amendments, and waiting to see how House Bill 22 advances at the <br />State. <br />Chair Kagiwada summarized some of the issues that the community and Council members brought up that may <br />need amendments - including deputizing HPD officers, a firewall to keep issues of deportation off the <br />workload for HPD, and reimbursement if HPD is called in to help with Federal enforcement issues. <br />Member Inaba moved to postpone until March 181h, and it was seconded by Committee Member Dennis <br />"Fresh" Onishi. All Committee members voted in favor of postponement. <br />Governmental Operation and External Affairs Meeting of March 18, 2025 <br />Police Chief Benjamin Moszkowicz and Assistant Police Chief Sherry Bird were present in the Kona <br />Chambers to discuss the Memorandums of Understanding. Chief Moszkowicz said that HPD officers aren't <br />trained for immigration enforcement and he doesn't have the staff for that, along with not being authorized to <br />do immigration enforcement actions under Title 8 of the United States Code. He reiterated that HPD officers <br />can enforce County and State law, but not Federal Law. <br />Once an MOU is in place, they are able to get their HPD officers trained as Task Force Officers (TFO) and <br />they are able to work together to get certain authorizations to allow them to use Federal investigative tools and <br />processes, to be able to investigate large and serious crimes under the jurisdiction and at the expense of the <br />Federal Government. These MOUs have been in place for a long time, and this resolution is refreshing and <br />updating these documents, including point of contact information. <br />GOEAC Report No. 27 <br />