Pro-invasion activists are turning up the heat on the last remaining full scale ICE detention center in the Commonwealth as the Plymouth Board of Selectman plans a vote on a sanctuary policy banning pro-active communication and cooperation with ICE Tuesday night.

“We cannot stop them but we do not need to help them,” Selectman Kevin Canty told a public hearing last month.

In a memo supporting the policy Canty wrote in mid December, that it would be “counterproductive for the Town of Plymouth to voluntarily assist federal agencies [ICE].”

The proposed sanctuary policy, which cleverly avoids the use of the word “sanctuary” applies not only to the Police Department but all Town staff including the Town Clerk: “Inquiries About Immigration Status: Town employees and officials may not inquire about the immigration status of any person with whom they have contact.”

“Town officials and employees shall not perform the functions of an immigration officer…nor shall they proactively communicate with any immigration officers about the immigration status of any individual or group of individuals except as allowed by other provisions of this policy,” according to the proposed policy.

“Shame on this town if we are going to start seeking to nullify federal law.” resident Tim Shobrook told the Board at the Cold Spring Elementary School hearing December 9th.

Yet while Canty’s measure would prohibit cooperation with ICE, Canty has repeatedly chastised ICE for not cooperating with the Plymouth Police Department.

“By failing to extend that minimum courtesy to our Police Department, ICE created a situation where our officers may have responded to calls from residents that masked individuals with guns were taking away their neighbors without having any idea those individuals were federal law enforcement and not criminals,” Canty told Fox 25 News in March, “This is unacceptable behavior that puts all law enforcement personnel and residents at risk. ICE should be ashamed of themselves.”

Yarmouth defeated a sanctuary policy in early December.

The County Jail on Long Pond Road has been the scene of repeated protests against the 287g contract between ICE and the Plymouth County Sheriff Joseph McDonald.

Canty’s sanctuary proposal does not directly address the Sherriff’s 287g agreement.

“The Select Board is hearing a policy on Tuesday, January 6, which will affect how our police interact with other Law Enforcement Agencies. All interested parties will have a chance to speak at our meeting,” Board Chair David Golden said.

The ICE policy discussion will follow by a presentation from Plymouth Police Chief Dana Flynn according to the publicly posted agenda.