HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0125.061 2024-2026From: Jayne LeFors
Sent: Saturday, March 29, 2025 8:46 PM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Testimony in Strong Opposition to Resolution 74-25
Aloha County Councilmembers,
I am writing to testify in strong opposition to Resolution 74-25, which would authorize the Hawai'i County Mayor to
enter into agreements embedding federal Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents within the Hawaii Police
Department (HPD) and deputizing local officers as federal customs agents.
First and foremost, there is no legitimate need for this agreement. HSI, as a division of ICE, already has full federal
authority to operate in Hawaii without local assistance. Embedding their agents within HPD and cross -designating our
officers only serves to blur the line between local policing and federal immigration enforcement. This raises serious
concerns about transparency, accountability, and community trust —especially in immigrant communities who are
already vulnerable to targeted raids and surveillance.
Secondly, HPD is already critically understaffed. By our own County's admission, officers are stretched thin responding to
basic calls for service. Adding federal entanglements to their workload is not only unnecessary, it's irresponsible. It
diverts time and energy away from local safety priorities and places additional strain on an scarce resources.
It is important to note that Hawai'i Island is currently the only county in the state considering such an agreement with
ICE/HSI. We should not lead the state in building deeper ties with an agency that has terrorized immigrant communities
and acted outside the bounds of compassion and justice. We should lead with Aloha, accountability, and a commitment
to our communities —not federal overreach.
Mahalo for taking the time to consider my views on this matter, I_ _
Jayne LeFors
Mamalahoa Hwy.
Holualoa
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