The Select Board approved a resolution related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and their potential future actions in Swampscott.

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

The Swampscott Police Department has said it will “not enforce immigration enforcement.” Resident Keiko Zoll read a proclamation addressing federal immigration enforcement in February calling the “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.” The Select Board’s approved resolution on Wednesday revolves around the space use and encouraging residents and town visitors to protest peacefully.

Select Board Vice Chair Doug Thompson said the Select Board’s resolution is very similar to other jurisdictions of “similar competence and orientation.”

Thompson read the statement as follows:

“Whereas the current federal administration’s policies, procedures and methods used to enforce civil immigration have led to fear and concern in Swampscott and whereas the enforcement of the nation’s federal civil immigration laws is solely the responsibility of the federal government, not the Swampscott Police Department or any other town departments, no Swampscott police officer performs the functions of a federal immigration officer. Whereas the governor of Massachusetts issues executive orders No. 650 on January 29, 2026, which among other things bars federal immigration officers from using state facilities to ‘facilitate civil immigration enforcement efforts’ and conducting enforcement activity in nonpublic spaces, public buildings and whereas the town of Swampscott through its Select Board is governed by the constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Select Board, consistent with holds taken by its members, follows those laws and whereas the Select Board strives to ensure that all persons living in, working in or visiting Swampscott be treated fairly and equally regardless of their national origin, race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability, immigration status, ethnicity, or political view point, and whereas the Select Board further states that the officers and other employees to the the police department affirm its current policy and practices regarding immigration enforcement, whereas this Select Board resolution does not prevent town police officers, employees or officials from lawfully discharging their duties in compliance with applicable state or federal legal compliance, including but not limited to 8 USC section 1373 in keeping with current practices including if presented with a criminal warrant or court order from a court of competent jurisdiction or other evidence of probate probable cause as required by the Fourth Amendment in the United States Constitution, now therefore the Swampscott Select Board affirms the above commitments to members of the community and hereby claims as follows. The town shall not use the property within its custody and control, including parking lots, garages, parks or buildings including the interior and exterior areas of any parcel upon which a building is located for staging areas, processing locations or operations bases for federal immigration enforcement actions. Town officials and employees shall not provide access to town public areas and town buildings unless required by a judicial warrant or court order issued by a judge or magistrate sitting in the judicial branch of state government or the federal government or other applicable law for valid legal justification. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to require action inconsistent with any applicable state or federal law, regulation or policy to diminish statutory authority of any executive branch entities that would require action inconsistent with other legal requirements for a state or federally supported funded program. Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to restrict or interfere with the execution of judicial warrants or judicial orders or the enforcement of criminal law. This proclamation reinforces and affirms the town’s emphasis on providing for the public safety of community members and does not restrict or interfere with lawful conduct of civil immigration enforcement. In addition to the town’s responsibility to protect its citizens and visitors, the Select Board urges all residents and visitors to express their views in peaceful non-violent ways which have shown to be the most effective way to counter and roll back actions of federal enforcement agents.”

ICE 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 agency’s mission focuses on public safety and national security. ICE’s actions are governed by the Constitution, federal law, and Department of Homeland Security guidelines.

“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 in March  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.”

There have been about three instances of ICE staging on police department property in Swampscott, Quesada said. 

“We confronted them, asked them what they were doing, and asked them to identify themselves,” Quesada said. “I know in one of the situations that I was involved in, they were looking for someone with a criminal warrant.”