In response to a concern from the community, Port of South Whidbey commissioners are considering how to communicate in the event of a visit from Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

During a special meeting Monday, Commissioner Greg Easton said he received a contact from a community member who heard someone from ICE was down at the Langley marina, which is owned and operated by the port district.

As Easton explained, Executive Director Angi Mozer spoke to the harbormaster and learned it was a “benign” interaction – a border patrol agent came to the South Whidbey Harbor by boat and stopped in Langley for lunch. There was no formal action.

At any rate, Easton suggested being prepared to react if ICE were to visit.

“In the future, we should anticipate possible actions and make sure that our staff know how to respond, that we have a line of communication to get it up to executive director and to the commission,” he said.

Commissioner Curt Gordon recommended Easton form a committee of one and come back with some research on the matter to present at the next port meeting so the commissioners can talk about establishing guidelines. In the meantime, Mozer is consulting with the port’s attorneys on what can legally be done.

Commissioner Jack Ng took on a slightly more cynical view of the matter, saying he was unsure what could actually be done.

“They’re almost like the mafia. They just do whatever they wanna do,” he said of ICE agents, adding that it feels more safer in China currently than in America.