Lexington council member Emma Curtis wrote that, while the city cannot "abolish ICE" at a local level, it can ensure local laws protect the "safety, freedom, and liberty of all of our residents to the fullest existent." In a statement, the Fourth District representative went on to signal legislation in the coming weeks, but stopped short of offering details.
A similar conversation is going on down the road in Louisville, where Metro Councilmember JP Lyninger pushed for an ordinance that would ban any law enforcement officer from wearing a face covering while on duty — a measure that ultimately failed.
Lyninger told Spectrum News the escalation in raids and confrontations involving ICE is bound to show up in the state's largest city.
"It will come here eventually and we will have to deal with it," he said. "I don't think that we need to wait until Louisville has a structure fire before we take preventative measures."
But just what cities can do is unclear, with a spokesperson for the Metro Council’s minority caucus saying that local governments have no ability to regulate the use of federal agents when acting in their official capacity.
As for moves on the state level, a bill up for consideration during the current GOP-led General Assembly recommends more, not less, cooperation with ICE.
The measure would mandate that all local law enforcement agencies and state police agree to a program that allows for the deputizing of local officers, who could then act as federal immigration agents during routine policing. Rep. TJ Roberts described the local involvement as limited.
"This is not independent raids. This is in they pull someone over for, suppose, a DUI, they are called for any other type of case, that they are then able upon reasonable suspicion to investigate whether or not the individuals are here legally," the Republican said.
Currently, at least 10 Kentucky counties have signed on to the program of their own accord.