HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0125.027 2024-2026TESTIMONY FROM THE STONEWALL CAUCUS OF THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY OF HAWAVI
Date: March 17, 2025
To: Hawaii County Council, via e-mail counciltestimony@hawaiicounty.gov
Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs
Re: Testimony in Strong Opposition to Resolution 74-25
Dear Chair Kagiwada, Vice Chair Kaneali`i-Kleinfelder, and Committee Members,
I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to Resolution 74-25, on behalf of the Stonewall
caucus of the Democratic Party of Hawaii and as a Hawaii County resident, which authorizes the
Mayor to enter into intergovernmental agreements with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), including agreements that would imbed Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Hawaii Police Department (HPD) and designate HPD
officers as federal customs enforcement agents.
Hawaii County has a long history of embracing diversity, inclusion, and trust between law enforcement
and the community. This resolution threatens that trust by intertwining our local police department
with federal immigration enforcement —an approach that has been shown across the country to create
fear, encourage racial profiling, and harm public safety.
Key Concerns Regarding Resolution 74-25:
1. Endangering Community Trust & Public Safety:
Studies have repeatedly shown that when local law enforcement is involved in immigration
enforcement, immigrant communities —both documented and undocumented —become less likely to
report crimes, serve as witnesses, or seek help when they need it. This leads to lower crime reporting
rates and greater danger for all residents, as criminals go unreported and unprosecuted. The ACLU of
Hawaii and other legal experts have pointed out that agreements like the ones in this resolution do not
make communities safer but instead undermine the effectiveness of local policing .
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Stonewall Caucus Testimony in Strong Opposition to Resolution 74-25
2. Hawaii Should Not Participate in the Harmful 287(p_) Program:
The proposed DHS agreements appear to function similarly to the 287(g) program, which deputizes
local police to enforce federal immigration laws. Across the country, this program has led to civil
rights abuses, racial profiling, and wrongful detentions. The program disproportionately targets
individuals based on ethnicity rather than criminal activity, and multiple jurisdictions have terminated
their participation due to ineffectiveness and high financial costs .
3. HPD's Role Should Not Include Federal Immigration Enforcement:
The Hawaii Police Department is already stretched thin in addressing local law enforcement needs.
Shifting local law enforcement resources toward federal immigration enforcement diverts attention
from violent crime, drug enforcement, and other pressing community concerns. Immigration
enforcement is a federal responsibility, and local police should not be burdened with enforcing broken
federal immigration policies.
4. Potential Violation of Civil Liberties:
The involvement of ICE in local policing has a well -documented history of racial profiling and
unconstitutional detentions. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has documented extensive
civil rights violations under similar programs, including illegal detentions of U.S. citizens,
mistreatment of detainees, and widespread racial discrimination.
5. No Transparency, No Accountability:
The agreements proposed under Resolution 74-25 have not been sufficiently vetted by the public. If
passed, these agreements would fundamentally change policing in Hawaii County without proper
oversight or input from those most affected -our residents. Community members and legal advocates
have repeatedly requested full public disclosure of these agreements before any decision is made .
Conclusion: Reject Resolution 74-25
Hawaii County has no obligation to entangle itself in federal immigration enforcement, and doing so
would be harmful to public safety, community trust, and civil liberties. For these reasons, I urge the
Committee to reject Resolution 74-25 and instead focus on policies that promote true public safety for
all residents of Hawaii County.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Abby Simmons (she/her)
Chair & SCC Representative
Stonewall Caucus
Democratic Party of Hawaii
Stonewalldph aigmail.com
THE STONEWALL CAUCUS OF THE
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