Utica has a new immigration policy to reassure the city’s large immigrant community that it will not routinely check immigration status when responding to calls or investigating crimes.
The policy, announced by the city and the Utica Police Department on Sept. 10, was developed in consultation with The Center in Utica and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
The policy, according to the announcement put out by the city, “strengthens community trust, provides clear guidance for officers and ensures equal service and protection for al residents regardless of national origin or immigration status.”
A look at the new immigration policy
Here are some of the key points in Utica’s new policy:
Officers will not stop, detain or arrest anyone based solely on immigration status or a civil immigration violation.
Officers won’t ask about immigration status when providing police services unless the question is required by law or necessary for the investigation of a crime.
Individuals in police custody will be treated equally during booking, processing and release.
Victims and witnesses of crimes can come forward without worrying that contacting police will automatically trigger immigration inquiries.
Victims of human trafficking and certain other crimes can seek protection under U and T visas (which provide legal status for victims of certain crimes who are assisting law enforcement) through clear pathways outlined in the city policy.
The policy came about after a call with The Center led to a larger effort to provide clear guidance for the city’s public safety departments and for the public when it comes to issues involving immigration enforcement, Mayor Michael Galime said.
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“My hope is that this guidance provides clarity to those who call Utica home on how immigration policy works in our city,” he continued in a statement. “The Utica Police Department emphasized that this policy will serve as a tool to both protect public safety and build stronger relationships between law enforcement and the diverse communities it serves.”
All officers will undergo training on the new policy, Galime added.
City of Utica Mayor Michael P. Galime delivers remarks during the unveiling of the upgraded Murnane Field at Donovan Stadium in Utica, NY on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Recent immigration news
The policy was released six days after a federal raid on a Nutrition Bar Confectioners plant in Cato led to the arrest of 57 immigrants, some of whom were deported to Guatemala within days of the raid.
Deputies from the Oswego and Cayuga sheriffs’ offices stood guard outside the plant during the raid, although the sheriffs told Syracuse area media outlets they were told the raid was part of a criminal investigation.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office announced in July that it would cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, better known as ICE, on a program that trains deputies to administer and execute federal administrative warrants on immigrants in the Madison County Jail. Sheriff Todd Hood said that serving the warrants in jail would prevent on-street arrests, which could prove more dangerous.
This article originally appeared on Observer-Dispatch: Utica mayor announces new policy for police on immigration issues