What We Know: The Nixa City Council has voted to move forward with a partnership between the city’s police department and federal immigration officials.
What It Means: Council members voted 5-to-1 Tuesday to approve an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the federal 287(g) Task Force Model Program.
The agreement would allow specially trained Nixa officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions while carrying out their regular police duties.
ICE would provide training and access to federal resources.
What’s Next: Nixa Police Captain Jason Fleetwood says the agreement is not intended to change the department’s main mission or have officers conducting general immigration enforcement.
The decision drew a heated response at City Hall, with some people in the crowd shouting at council members after the vote.
Nixa is not alone in Missouri. The Missouri State Highway Patrol, Branson Police Department and Christian County Sheriff’s Office are among other law enforcement agencies participating in similar ICE programs.
(Photo Courtesy of nixa.com)