Police Chief addresses council about ICE

Duluth, Minn. — The topic of ice started tonight’s city council meeting in Duluth with police chief Mike Ceynowa taking to the podium.

Chief Ceynowa addressed concerns by some in the community that the duluth police department is working with ICE. The chief says the police department does work with homeland security investigations as a partner on the Lake Superior Violent Offender Task Force and the Lake Superior Internet Crimes Against Children, but when it comes to ICE, the department is not involved.

“The Duluth Police Department has not and will not participate with ICE or HSI on immigration enforcement actions,” said Chief Ceynowa. “The Duluth police department does not participate in immigration violation investigations. Our department investigates crime.”

After Chief Ceynowa spoke, many people shared their concerns regarding ICE possibly being in the Northland.

“I am worried for the safety of our community and the public trust in our local law enforcement,” said Kevin Brown, a Duluth resident. “The commitment I need in order to trust that our police force is really there to protect us goes way beyond saying that we won’t participate in immigration raids.”