AMHERST — An “ICE Out for Good” rally will be staged outside Amherst Town Hall Monday evening in the hour leading up to a possible vote by the Town Council on a resolution that calls for holding federal immigration agents accountable for violations of state criminal law.
Organized by Free Speech for People, the action, starting at 5:30 p.m., will bring together community members, legal advocates and local leaders, before the resolution “Calling for Federal Immigration Agents to Be Held Accountable for Violations of Massachusetts Criminal Law” is taken up by councilors.
The resolution calls on the Massachusetts attorney general and district attorneys to investigate federal immigration agents who violate Massachusetts criminal law.
It also specifically asks Attorney General Andrea Campbell, Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan and Police Chief Gabriel Ting to make public statements confirming that federal officials and agents are subject to state criminal jurisdiction, to create and disseminate an accessible online tool for citizens to submit evidence of criminal wrongdoing by federal agents and to issue guidelines for preserving evidence and beginning investigations into posisble criminal incidents.
The council’s Governance, Organization and Legislation gave a favorable recommendation at its Feb. 10 meeting, with the text of the resolution having clarity, consistency and actionability, meaning it could go to the full council for a vote.