(Editor's note: This is just one part of a series of stories about local candidates in the upcoming June 2 primary, municipal and school board election. Find more coverage here.)
Simplified: Sioux Falls Simplified readers submitted several questions about public safety and the Sioux Falls Police Department ahead of the June 2 election. One of the topics that came up was questions about how the city's new leadership would approach collaboration between federal immigration officers and local police.
Here's what we asked all of the City Council candidates:
Do you support collaboration between the Sioux Falls Police Department and federal immigration officials, i.e. ICE?
Here's what candidates had to say (in alphabetical order):
At-Large A
Vince Danh:
"That's a tricky question. At the end of the day, I believe Sioux Falls should do what Sioux Falls does best, which is: take care of our own. When it comes down to the federal, state, city level – that is a lot. That's really difficult to answer in the sense that, what is the limitation where we don't really have a choice? I would continue to advocate for Sioux Falls first whenever we can."
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James Oppenheimer said it's a difficult subject.
"I would say it’s important that federal and local law enforcement are on the same page," he said. "Collaboration is key. Do I agree with the way ICE is working right now and some of the things that are going on? Not necessarily. But do we need to collaborate on a federal and a state and a city level? Absolutely. Like everything else, there's probably a middle ground here."
Oppenheimer also noted that he's been through the immigration process, and if elected he's representing all of Sioux Falls, regardless of their documentation status.
"I'd love to see a pathway to citizenship – a pathway for those who are here undocumented rather than scaring them into their homes by having ICE out there looking for undocumented people," he said.
Juliann Perrigo Talkington was unable to meet in-person or respond to questions sent virtually in time for publication. This will be updated if/when those responses are received or a meeting is set.
At-Large B
Rich Merkouris said he's proud of the collaboration between city, county and federal officials, and that Police Chief Jon Thum has done a good job of explaining the city's role in all this.
- He said he wouldn't want to see the city oppose federal law or enforcement of that law.
"We need to get a plan in place for how we communicate between the jails and ICE, prison and ICE, and then we get a plan in place for how we bring people out of the shadows and get their IDs, get them a work visa," he said. "I think we’ve collaborated well. At the same time, that’s ICE’s responsibility, and it needs to stay there."
Samantha Scarlata shared an example of a friend from Guatemala and their challenges navigating immigration and it's "very much a hot topic."
"It is sad what happens because I think sometimes … it’s a hard one," Scarlata said. "And even if you say something over here or say something over there, you're gonna upset someone with what you say. But I think that for me what it comes down to, and a lot of people that I've talked to, you just need to make sure that you're doing things legally."
See all Simplified election coverage here:
