On May 1, 2026, Chester Police Department Chief Aaron Berube signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The MOA, commonly known as a 287(g) agreement, establishes an understanding that some of our local police officers will be trained to conduct federal immigration law enforcement in addition to their responsibilities to you and your neighbors in town.

NEGATIVE IMPACTS

• DOWNSHIFTING COSTS TO CHESTER TAXPAYERS
  Under 287(g) agreements, federal immigration enforcement shifts to local police, and so do associated costs. Chester taxpayers could be on the hook for overtime, administrative overhead, and costs of detaining individuals in local facilities on federal holds.
• CIVIL RIGHTS & LIABILITY
  Deputizing local police to conduct immigration enforcement duties increases the risk of costly mistakes, such as racial profiling, exposing individual officers and the Town of Chester to civil rights lawsuits.
• COMMUNITY TRUST ERODED
  Our immigrant neighbors, including those with lawful status, may fear reporting crimes, stepping forward as witnesses, or calling for emergency help. This undermines public safety and trust in our local police.

WHAT’S AT STAKE

• LOSS OF LOCAL CONTROL
  Gov. Ayotte signed away local control with SB62, prohibiting our town’s elected officials from blocking or reversing 287(g) agreements. The decision rests with the Chief of Police alone.
• COMMUNITY POLICING
  Diverting local police and resources toward federal immigration enforcement directly undermines core community policing principles, and often fails to improve safety.
• CORE AMERICAN VALUES
  This isn't just a political debate; it's a constitutional one. Many neighbors who are otherwise quiet on immigration care deeply about protecting free speech and due process rights and preventing the government overreach like what we see in headlines across the country.

Therefore, we, the undersigned residents of Chester, call upon Police Chief Aaron Berube to immediately rescind the 287(g) Memorandum of Agreement with ICE.

While state law may currently restrict our Selectboard from blocking this agreement, it does not strip us of our voices. We demand that our local law enforcement remain dedicated exclusively to community safety, public trust, and the impartial protection of all Chester residents, regardless of their background.

WHY YOUR SIGNATURE MATTERS
Send a Clear Message: Our local officials and police department need to know that the community does not support turning our local officers into federal immigration agents.
Protect Our Town's Budget: We must demonstrate that Chester taxpayers refuse to foot the bill for federal enforcement duties and the legal liabilities that come with them.
Stand Up for Our Neighbors: Your signature helps reassure every member of our community that Chester remains a safe place to live, work, and call for help in an emergency.

Stand with your neighbors to protect Chester’s values, resources, and community trust. Sign the petition today.