UTICA, NY - The city of Utica and its police department have formally adopted a new immigration policy that they claim will foster community trust and provide clear guidance for officers.
A press release from the city of Utica states that the new policy brings equal service and protection for all its residents, regardless of their immigration status. Starting immediately, officers will not stop, detain, or arrest anyone based solely on immigration status or a civil immigration violation, Spectrum News 1 reported.
Immigration status will not be inquired about when providing police services unless required by law or an investigation. Individuals in police custody will be treated equally under all booking, processing, and release procedures, as noted in the press release.
The policy was developed with input from The Center, the New York State Attorney General's Office, and Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "This policy provides clear guidance and explanation of how we will proceed when faced with situations involving immigration enforcement," Utica Mayor Mike Galime said.
"My hope is that this guidance provides clarity to those who call Utica home on how immigration policy works in our city," he added. The new policy encourages victims and witnesses of crime to come forward without fear of immigration inquiries.
It also outlines pathways for victims of certain crimes and human trafficking to seek protection under U and T visas, with assistance from the department's Criminal Investigation Division. The Utica Police Department (UPD) said that the policy will help protect public safety and strengthen relationships with diverse communities.
"My conversation started with a call to The Center and grew into a larger effort to provide clarity and definitive guidance that both our public safety departments and the public can understand," the mayor said. He noted that despite the adoption of this new policy, Utica does not carry the designation of a sanctuary city, the Rome Sentinel reported.
City officials have acknowledged that multiple immigration enforcement raids have taken place in Utica. Reports of such activity have reportedly circulated widely on social media, drawing attention and concern from community members. In a previous interview with the Daily Sentinel, UPD Chief Mark Williams said, "We don't enforce civil federal matters, that's for ICE to do. We do have great partnerships with our federal law enforcement agencies, but we made it clear to our partners that if they are involved in immigration enforcement that we will not have our officers participate in that."
Training for the officers on the new policy will begin immediately, according to WKTV.
A press release from the city of Utica states that the new policy brings equal service and protection for all its residents, regardless of their immigration status. Starting immediately, officers will not stop, detain, or arrest anyone based solely on immigration status or a civil immigration violation, Spectrum News 1 reported.
Immigration status will not be inquired about when providing police services unless required by law or an investigation. Individuals in police custody will be treated equally under all booking, processing, and release procedures, as noted in the press release.
The policy was developed with input from The Center, the New York State Attorney General's Office, and Federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "This policy provides clear guidance and explanation of how we will proceed when faced with situations involving immigration enforcement," Utica Mayor Mike Galime said.
"My hope is that this guidance provides clarity to those who call Utica home on how immigration policy works in our city," he added. The new policy encourages victims and witnesses of crime to come forward without fear of immigration inquiries.
It also outlines pathways for victims of certain crimes and human trafficking to seek protection under U and T visas, with assistance from the department's Criminal Investigation Division. The Utica Police Department (UPD) said that the policy will help protect public safety and strengthen relationships with diverse communities.
"My conversation started with a call to The Center and grew into a larger effort to provide clarity and definitive guidance that both our public safety departments and the public can understand," the mayor said. He noted that despite the adoption of this new policy, Utica does not carry the designation of a sanctuary city, the Rome Sentinel reported.
City officials have acknowledged that multiple immigration enforcement raids have taken place in Utica. Reports of such activity have reportedly circulated widely on social media, drawing attention and concern from community members. In a previous interview with the Daily Sentinel, UPD Chief Mark Williams said, "We don't enforce civil federal matters, that's for ICE to do. We do have great partnerships with our federal law enforcement agencies, but we made it clear to our partners that if they are involved in immigration enforcement that we will not have our officers participate in that."
Training for the officers on the new policy will begin immediately, according to WKTV.
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Comments
2025-09-15T18:23-0400 | Comment by: arthur
Yeah, you're not a 'Sanctuary city', you just look the other way when it comes to illegals. Got it....