HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0125.067 2024-2026RtY IN-155
From: Peter Matlock
Sent: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 11:51 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Oppose Resolution 74-25
Dear County Councilmembers,
Please oppose Resolution 74-25 and any intergovernmental cooperation agreements between the
Hawaii Police Department and Federal/State agencies —particularly the Department of Homeland
Security/ICE—relating to immigration and customs enforcement.
Through ICE, the current Administration is engaging in illegal, sloppy, and immoral roundups of
individuals who have typically fled horrible situations and seek a better, safe life in the US.
Many of these people are in the US legally, but are still detained and deported.
We know the horrific story that broke this week of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was torn from his family
and returned El Salvador where his life is in danger, all because an unrepentant Administration
admits he was deported by mistake but is unwilling to correct it.
We know of individuals who are here with valid legal status who were arrested and face deportation
because they voiced views that don't fall in line with Trump's. This is outright suppression of dissent
in a land where freedom of speech has (until now) been a foundation of our society.
We know that people are being arrested according to an ICE "scorecard" that relies on a federal
agent's subjective discretion to detain and deport suspects.
In all these cases, due process has been trampled.
Does Hawaii County want to be complicit in this?
Immigration is a Federal issue. Cooperating with Federal agents and ICE distorts the mission of our
County Police and makes their jobs more difficult —and hence makes us all less safe. To cooperate
with ICE means fewer people willing to report crimes, greater hesitancy of witnesses to help
prosecute them, diminished ability to recruit officers, a gross distortion of the police mission, and
heightened distrust and suspicion by the community of the police.
Please don't align our local police with Federal DHS1ICE!
Thank you for continuing to safeguard the well-being of our community.
Peter Matlock
Peter Matlock
Kaitua Kona, HI
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