Anchorage Assembly Calls for Immigration Reform Amid ICE Concerns

Alaska Sees Increase in ICE Detentions Amid National Crackdown

Alaska is experiencing a surge in detentions carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of a broader national immigration crackdown. The increase in ICE activity has prompted calls for immigration reform from local leaders and sparked protests across the state.

Between January 2025 and January 2026, ICE detained approximately 100 people in Alaska, a significant increase from the 13 individuals held by the Alaska Department of Corrections for ICE during the prior year. Some of those targeted have been long-time Alaska residents with no criminal record, according to Assembly member Volland.

The Anchorage Assembly passed a resolution on Tuesday, February 3, 2026, emphasizing the need for federal reform of immigration enforcement. Assembly members Erin Baldwin Day, Yarrow Silvers, and Daniel Volland sponsored the resolution, which states the “situation demands that we reassert the constitutional rights of the people.” The Assembly voted 9-3 in favor of the resolution, with members Scott Myers, Keith McCormick, and Jared Goecker voting in opposition.

During the meeting, Goecker stated that ICE agents have acted in the country’s best interest and characterized the resolution as a “distraction from the nuts and bolts of good local government.” McCormick argued the resolution conflated multiple issues beyond the Assembly’s scope.

Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance clarified that Anchorage Police Department officers have “no role or authority” over federal immigration enforcement activities, but will continue to respond to calls without regard to immigration status. “Many people in our community are watching what is happening at the federal level and are understandably worried,” LaFrance said. “The government’s most important job is to keep people safe. … Municipal agencies are committed to the safety and dignity of all residents regardless of background.”

Joining a National Conversation

Anchorage is not alone in addressing concerns over federal immigration enforcement. Jurisdictions across the country are taking action as disputes between federal immigration agents and communities become more tense. In Helena, Montana, residents are debating a similar resolution regarding city policies on federal immigration enforcement. Sacramento City Council members in California are considering a ban on immigration enforcement on city-owned properties.

Alaskans have been actively involved in the national conversation, with protests occurring over the past two weeks. On January 23, 2026, dozens of Anchorage residents protested in solidarity with Minneapolis following fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents. On January 30, 2026, health care workers and West High School students also held protests near the Alaska Native Medical Center and at the school, respectively.

The Assembly resolution calls for the Alaska Congressional Delegation to pass legislation reforming federal immigration enforcement operations. U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski recently voted in favor of rescinding billions of dollars added to ICE’s budget, but that measure failed. She has been one of the few Republicans to publicly criticize the immigration enforcement tactics employed in recent years.

Concerns About Retaliation

Some legal experts have expressed concern that the resolution could draw unwanted attention from federal authorities. Lara Nations, an immigration lawyer at Nations Law Group in Anchorage, noted that the municipality’s power regarding federal policies is limited and that the resolution “doesn’t necessarily have teeth.” She also worried the resolution could make Anchorage a “target” of the federal government, referencing Anchorage’s past efforts to avoid being labeled a “sanctuary city.”

In early 2025, the Department of Homeland Security included Anchorage on a federal list of “sanctuary jurisdictions,” suggesting potential loss of federal funding. The LaFrance administration refuted the label, citing a 2015 resolution affirming the municipality’s “commitment to render appropriate assistance in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.”

“People are very afraid right now, and with good reason,” Nations said. “The circumstances in Alaska thus far have not been nearly as bad as they have been in other places.”

The resolution does not seek to obstruct lawful immigration enforcement, but rather to reaffirm the importance of constitutional rights, due process, and human dignity, according to Assembly member Volland. He argued that addressing the issue is within the Assembly’s purview.