Residents press council to bar 287(g) cooperation; mayor and police chief reaffirm no participation

Dozens of residents urged the South Ogden City Council on Jan. 20, 2026 to ensure that the Ogden Police Department does not partner with ICE or enter a 287(g) agreement, and asked the council to formalize that stance in writing.

Speakers described fear in immigrant and minority communities, referenced national incidents and DOJ findings about 287(g)-era abuses, and recounted local encounters in which OPD contacted ICE during a traffic stop. Sam, a 12-year Air Force veteran, told the council: "I do not want our local police drawn into it." Kim Haslam, who watched body-cam footage at the police station, said OPD contacted ICE after a traffic stop in which an individual refused fingerprinting and the contact "effectively sped up that process." Chris Barrera cited national arrest statistics and asked whether the city was comfortable with a small percentage of arrests being classified as convictions.

Mayor Nadalski responded that he has repeatedly directed the police department not to participate in a 287(g) agreement and emphasized that the mayor does not control federal immigration enforcement. He said the city has issued public statements in English and Spanish to clarify its position and invited Police Chief Keith Suby to address the concerns.

Chief Suby told the council and public that the Ogden Police Department "does not participate in the 287(g) program" and that OPD does not engage in immigration enforcement or ICE raids. He acknowledged two incidents last year that raised public concern, described how OPD handled them and said the department sought to be transparent about those interactions. Suby explained there are limited operational situations — for example, when an officer cannot identify someone and the individual volunteers that they recently entered the country — where consulting another agency can assist identification, but he repeatedly stressed that OPD will not enforce federal immigration law or enter a 287(g) agreement under his direction.

Several councilmembers supported drafting a joint resolution or written policy to codify those assurances, while others noted the limits of a council resolution compared with executive directives and county-level agreements. The mayor said he would discuss the matter with legal counsel and the administration to determine how best to formalize the commitment.