BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Border patrol agents called off a scheduled swim training exercise in Bellingham – but protests persisted.

Mayor Kim Lund announced during a community forum Tuesday night, Oct. 6 that U.S. Customs and Border Protection no longer planned to conduct swim training at Arne Hanna Aquatic Center.

Community members voiced their concerns after a notice posted at the city-run facility stated that CBP would be using two lap lanes and part of the dive tank between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 7.

A local organization called Bellingham Troublemakers had planned a peaceful protest, claiming it went against city policy to support federal immigration enforcement.

Protesters still showed up to the Civic Athletic Complex around 8:30 a.m. after learning CBP was training at Civic Field instead.

They also held signs and peacefully protested outside of Arne Hanna and on the corner of Lakeway Drive and Lincoln Street.

Lund added at the meeting that CBP’s swift water rescue team has used Arne Hanna for the last 10 years.

She told the forum that there are “layers of complexity” to these issues, as that same rescue team was rescuing seniors in Everson and Sumas during last year’s flooding.