What’s happening in our friendly seaside town? This spring, the Wells police chief signed a contract with ICE committing officers to take on federal immigration responsibilities. At an August selectboard meeting, the chief advocated for the installation of Flock cameras that would be linked to a national system of mass surveillance, indiscriminately collecting data of vehicles traveling throughout town. I find both these decisions by the chief troubling and perplexing.
I am also wondering what happened to the pause in Wells’ ICE contract that was touted by news media outlets in late May.
I believe that Wells town officials owe all residents of Wells some definitive answers about the ICE contract’s status. They owe the more than 900 people who signed the petition calling for the termination of the 287(g) contract some acknowledgment that residents have spoken strongly on this issue. They owe residents input into any decision regarding the implementation of cameras, and a clear and independent review of the risks associated with a national surveillance system like Flock.
It is time to prioritize accountability, transparency, and the protection of civil liberties if we want to maintain our reputation as a friendly seaside town.
Mary Marra
Wells
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