Dozens of residents spoke or submitted written comments during the Sept. 8 public comment period urging the Mesa City Council to maintain the city's 287(g) memorandum of agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, saying the program helps identify criminal noncitizens and protect public safety.

Speakers included Alex Francik, who told the council the program "makes Mesa safer and it's a direct benefit to all of us," and Mary Anne Mendoza, who identified herself as the mother of Mesa Police Sergeant Brandon Mendoza, killed in 2014, and said the offender in that case would have been deported earlier had similar cooperation been in place: "My son could still be alive today," she said.

Other speakers, including precinct captains and business owners, urged the council not to alter the memorandum and said removing the program would expose residents to increased risk. Scott Granger described 287(g) as a "clear and concise" agreement that requires the Mesa Police Department to notify ICE when officers have in custody people who are in the country illegally and said changing that direction would be a step toward conditions seen in other jurisdictions.

Council did not take action on 287(g) during the meeting. City staff read a list of many names submitted in support of keeping the agreement, and the council concluded the public comment period and moved to adjourn. Several speakers asked that the council continue to prioritize enforcement cooperation and public safety tools.

What happens next: the public record for the meeting includes the spoken comments and the list of written submissions; council members did not vote or direct staff on 287(g) at the Sept. 8 meeting, so any policy change would require a future agenda item and formal council action.