Worcester City Council adopts resolution opposing local participation in 287(g) immigration agreements

The Worcester City Council voted to adopt a resolution opposing local pursuit, exploration or entry into Section 287(g) agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), saying the city will not partner with federal immigration enforcement that could authorize local officers to carry out civil immigration enforcement.

Supporters of the resolution spoke at length during the public participation portion of the Sept. 9 meeting. Andrew Marsh urged passage, saying, "We must put our foot down and tell ICE you are not welcome in our city." Multiple residents, immigrant‑rights groups and representatives of health‑care workers described fear in immigrant communities and urged the council to make a public statement that local resources and police will not be used for immigration enforcement.

Councilor Christian King, who filed the resolution, told the council that local passage would send “a clear statement” that Worcester will not be complicit in policies he said separate families and create fear. King and other backers cited recent national reporting and ACLU analysis about the 287(g) model and flagged concerns about racial profiling and erosion of trust between communities and local police.

City officials said they already have an executive order and departmental policies limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. City Manager and the chief of police told council members and speakers earlier in the meeting that Worcester Police Department policy does not permit local officers to enforce federal civil immigration law and that the administration has trained staff and community partners on "Know Your Rights" guidance.

After debate the council approved the resolution by roll call. The council’s adopted language opposes entering into 287(g) task‑force agreements or other arrangements that would delegate federal immigration enforcement authority to Worcester officials.

The resolution passed amid a round of additional public comment from residents describing arrests and detentions they said had occurred in the region. Supporters urged the mayor and council to back state‑level measures mentioned during public remarks, including the Dignity Not Deportations Act, and to continue outreach to immigrant communities.

The council also asked the administration to provide additional briefings and to keep lines of communication open with community organizations working with immigrant residents.