On May 6, we sounded the alarm that the Camden Police Department signed a 287(g) agreement with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Camden would have been the very first Delaware municipality to sign a 287(g) agreement, marking a significant milestone in the ratcheting up of the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans in the First State.
Read our statement on Camden's 287(g) agreement
When we sounded the alarm, you heard the call and responded. Scores of Delawareans took action and contacted Camden officials letting them know that 287(g) agreements do not reflect the values of our state of neighbors.
To every person who took action, we say thank you.
Late in the afternoon on May 6, Camden officials announced they rescinded their agreement with ICE due to the significant public outcry.
This victory is a great reminder that each of us can make a difference by acting locally to affect change. While so much about national politics feels overwhelming and out of our control, we can impact our state and local officials’ decisions.
That is why we are currently promoting our Week of Action on Immigrants’ Rights to urge our elected officials to protect immigrant communities now.
REGISTER FOR Week of Action EVENTS
Governor Matt Meyer could establish new protections with the stroke of a pen by issuing an executive order to broadly protect Delawareans’ civil liberties from the actions of the federal government. In the legislature, over 10 bills are currently pending that would protect immigrant communities and mitigate the worst harms the federal government might try to inflict.
Send a message to governor meyer
Send a message to state legislators
Our collective action to oppose Camden’s attempt to deputize their police to enforce immigration laws reminds us that we cannot let up as threats to our civil liberties emerge, and we must work proactively to protect our friends, family and neighbors.
Learn more about Activate Delaware, our four-part weeks of action series to activate Delawareans to speak out, show up, and take action on key issues like immigrants' rights, voting rights, probation reform, and gender justice at aclu-de.org/activate.
