The Swampscott Select Board read a proclamation addressing the federal immigration enforcement during its Wednesday night meeting.

Keiko Zoll had reached out to the Select Board “in regards to some of the current events and offered to help to make this proclamation come into fruition,” according to Select Board Chair Katie Phelan. Select Board Member Danielle Leonard acknowledged that multiple Swampscott residents have reached out to the board on the matter. Zoll’s proclamation focused on federal immigration enforcement, civil liberties and the protection of human life.

“In January 2026, multiple incidents involving federal immigration enforcement resulted in the killing, detention, or harm of civilians in the United States…whereas these incidents have occurred amid intensified federal immigration enforcement actions, including raids, detentions and deportation operations carried out in civilian neighborhoods, workplaces and public spaces – actions that have caused fear, disruption and harm to immigrant communities as well as to U.S. citizens and have undermined a sense of safety in communities across the nation,” Zoll read, “and whereas such acts of violence and harm – whether directed at immigrants or U.S. citizens are unacceptable and stand in direct contradiction to the fundamental American rights and values that form the foundation of our democracy including the rights to life, liberty, due process, peaceful expression and freedom of fear, and whereas the town of Swampscott reaffirms its commitment to being a community where every person is safe, treated with dignity and protected under the law.”

Zoll’s proclamation, by the authority of the Select Board, condemned “the loss of life, harm and fear resulting from these actions; affirm our unwavering commitment to fundamental rights, accountability and transparency; and declare the safety, dignity and humanity of all people are essential to the strength of our community and to the health of our democracy.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has made thousands of arrests since President Donald Trump returned to the White House for his second term. Since the beginning of 2026, ICE has ramped up enforcement, resulting in a record number of detentions and deportations. In January, there were two fatal shootings in Minneapolis as well, of 37-year-old Renee Nicole Good and 37-year-old Alex Pretti.

The enforcement agency was formed in 2002 as part of the Homeland Security Act, in response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. The act created the Department of Homeland Security, and ICE was one of its subsidiaries. The overall agency’s mission is around both public safety and national security. ICE’s use of actions are governed by the Constitution, general law, and the Department of Homeland Security’s guidelines. 

Minnesota officials have sued the Trump administration in an attempt to block the agents in their state. In Massachusetts, Gov. Maura Healey filed a bill last week to block ICE from making arrests in courthouses, schools, day cares, hospitals and health clinics. She also signed an executive order to restrict state agencies from entering into new partnerships with ICE.

Some people who have been detained by ICE throughout the area are being held in Burlington, Massachusetts. The facility is allegedly supposed to be used for processing. House Minority Whip Rep. Katherine Clark (D-MA) said she was turned away from the field office on Monday, when she arrived for an unannounced oversight visit. 

There have been multiple ICE encounters throughout the Commonwealth. A Salvadoran man was detained in Malden. Footage shows a man appearing to collapse while holding a child during an ICE arrest in Fitchburg. On Nantucket, several individuals were detained.

In Swampscott, protestors held signs that opposed Trump and ICE as part of a nationwide walkout on Tuesday, January 20. A special demonstration — in addition to the weekly Swampscott Thursday protests — took place in Marblehead last weekend in remembrance of Pretti and “all the others who have been innocently murdered,” according to organizer Michael Paquette.

“I know this month, Boston Mayor Wu and several greater-Boston leaders including those from Newton, Lynn, Somerville, Cambridge and Chelsea signed executive orders, which banned Immigration and Custom Enforcement from using city property, including city buildings, parks and parking lots, for enforcement operations. These actions aim to protect residents from what leaders call ‘aggressive federal tactics,’” Select Board Member David Grishman said. “I think we should do the same in Swampscott.”

Select Board Member Doug Thompson acknowledged that “many of us feel hopeless in the face of what is happening.”

“A proclamation one can say does nothing but one can also say it’s at least using our voices to express our dismay and anger and concern about what’s happening to our fellow citizens and even non-citizens, people who live here,” Thompson said. “I think if we all take these small steps together, which is happening across the country, especially our friends in Minnesota, standing up to what’s happening – the tide I think is turning. Unfortunately, extremely unfortunately, for these two individuals and their families, way too much has been sacrificed, but if we all band together, I think the tide is starting to turn, and we of course need to continue these actions.”

Leonard added that “if ever there’s a time to not stay quiet, it’s now.”

“It’s not just a personal feeling of anyone on this board, but I feel like it’s also our obligation to actually speak out and do what’s right,” Leonard said.

Phelan said she has reached out to Town Administrator Nick Connors to request that on the next Select Board meeting’s agenda there will be space for the board to “make a public stance on where the town of Swampscott has fit into – as other communities have stood up and said ‘not in our backyard.’” 

Police Chief Ruben Quesada added at the Select Board meeting that the police department does “not enforce immigration enforcement.”

“The advice we have for the public is not to interfere, obstruct, hinder, or impede ICE agents conducting their lawful duties,” Quesada previously told the Swampscott Tides. “The same rules apply to us as municipal law enforcement.”

Quesada said that he has not had any notifications on ICE or the Department of Homeland Security, but if a resident is concerned the police department can respond and “record on our body cameras any interactions or suspicious activity that the public has any questions about whatsoever.”

The Massachusetts Chiefs of Police Association are compiling standards in compliance with the issue, which Quesada said he will provide to legislators on March 4 in Essex County.

Swampscott Racial Justice Action Group posted to Facebook Wednesday that “a few Select Board members also voiced interest in doing more than just give words with regards to what our federal government is doing in the name of ‘immigration enforcement.’”

“Please help hold them accountable to this by writing to them and expressing the need to take action as quickly as possible,” the post reads. “Ideas that will be evaluated include becoming a Sanctuary Town, restricting the use of public grounds from DHS use, and others.”