Some view the year’s results as a clear indication that this was the correct course of action for the city. Others see no change whatsoever, and still others are just tired of hearing about the issue.
Councilwoman Wendy Leece said it’s always good when the city’s resources are used to defend the law.
“This is just making the public safer by upholding the law,” Leece said.
“If it were not for the efforts of [Councilman] Eric Bever, [former Councilman] Gary Monahan and [Mayor] Allan Mansoor who pushed for the enforcement program, we would not have the ICE agent in our jail today,” Leece said. “This has been very effective in reducing and preventing crime and also shows compassion for the victims.”
“I think the police would be the only ones to know if the program is effective,” City Councilwoman Katrina Foley said when asked for an opinion on the enforcement program a year later. She declined further comment.
“I think it’s accomplished some of the goals the community set forth,” City Councilwoman Linda Dixon said.
The council has not discussed whether the program will continue, but Dixon could not see any reason why it wouldn’t.
Many more are being deported as a result of it, but it hasn’t driven up the number of arrests, Sgt. Mark Manley said.
“This doesn’t impact the way our officers do their jobs,” Manley said. “That is probably the biggest misconception out there.”
For the most part, the agent and police work independently, said Manley, who took charge of the jail in July. On the “land level” the officer still does the same job, still “providing the same level of service to the community,” Manley added.
The difference comes once the arrested person enters the jail. That is when the ICE agent gets involved.
