The actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement have been front and center over recent weeks as the Department of Homeland Security continues its operations in Minneapolis. The high-profile killings of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti have led to protests in Boston in recent days.

Demands by protestors for greater immigrant protections and state policies of noncooperation with ICE may have ripple effects across the state. Gov. Maura Healey on Jan. 29 filed legislation to keep ICE agents out of courthouses, schools, child care programs, hospitals and churches.

Additionally, Healey signed an executive order prohibiting ICE agents from making civil arrests in non-public areas of state facilities and prohibiting the use of state property for immigration enforcement activities.

Massachusetts Senate President Karen Spilka, in recent remarks, vowed that “the Senate will do everything in its power” to return Healey’s proposals back to her for signature as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, communities around Hopkinton and across New England already have felt the impact of immigration enforcement actions. Last June, a high school student from Milford was arrested by ICE, with officials claiming they were attempting to find the boy’s father. Demonstrators have been protesting an ICE detention facility located in Framingham.

According to a report from Politico, ICE began drawing down its presence in Maine as of late January.

Whether Hopkinton will see any effects of the federal crackdown on immigration is unclear. According to information from the United States Census Bureau, 18.8% of the town’s population between 2020 and 2024 was designated as “foreign-born persons.”

The Independent recently reached out to local leaders to get their perspectives on what has been happening nationally with immigration enforcement.

Hopkinton Republican Town Committee Chair Jim Mirabile offered brief remarks.

“The HRTC is truly saddened by the events over the last few weeks around the country,” he stated in an email. He added that, in his opinion, “firing up the base” had gone too far.

“We hope and pray that our politicians work together to resolve political policy differences,” he added, declining to elaborate further.

Amy Groves, Hopkinton Democratic Town Committee chair, echoed Mirabile’s sentiments but was more pointed about the recent events.

“We are shocked and saddened by the deaths of those shot and killed by ICE,” she stated. Groves went on to condemn “the administration’s lies about these individuals,” arguing that claims made by DHS officials about the victims were not supported by the evidence.

“These unjustified acts of violence and intimidation are hallmarks of neither a free country nor a healthy democracy,” she added.

Select Board member Amy Ritterbusch shared similar perspectives on the killings. “It is scary to see cases in the news where people’s rights to due process are being violated or when people are exercising their rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, yet are being harmed or even killed for it,” she stated in an email.

Ritterbusch stated she believed Hopkinton is following guidance from state Attorney General Andrea Campbell on ICE’s enforcement actions. The guidance offers practical information on the rights of immigrants and citizens, and provides the basic legal framework for ICE actions.

Groves noted that the HDTC plans to continue working in the community to “stand up for our constitutional rights.” She noted that details about a No Kings protest planned for March 28 are forthcoming.

Select Board chair Joe Clark was candid about the impact of ICE’s actions on the national stage. “This is a very dividing thing in our country,” he said.

To combat the division locally, Clark encouraged residents to instead focus on the community’s immediate needs and ongoing work, such as the fiscal year 2027 budget, the upcoming Annual Town Meeting and solving the town’s water issues.

“We need to keep focus on what Hopkinton needs and staying together as a community,” said Clark. “Let’s stay focused on Hopkinton and do that together.”

Ritterbusch stated that the Select Board may discuss ICE enforcement in the near future.

“[At the Feb. 3 meeting] I requested a future agenda item for the Select Board to discuss this issue and what the town’s role is,” she explained.