ICE crackdown in sanctuary cities sparks backlash in LA
Law enforcement officials are pushing back against a new federal immigration push to add more resources in sanctuary cities as the Trump administration continues to target those migrants who have entered the US without legal documents.
The relationship between ICE and many local law enforcement agencies has long been fraught. Since Trump took office, it has grown only more tenuous as police grapple with maintaining communication with ICE while also balancing transparency with community and civic leaders.
Those tensions are especially evident in California, where local law enforcement must abide by a ‘‘sanctuary’’ law, Senate Bill 54, which went into effect last year to provide protection for immigrants in the country illegally.
In LA, the police department stopped engaging in joint operations with ICE that directly involve civil immigration enforcement and no longer transfers people with certain minor criminal convictions to ICE custody.
In the latest flashpoint, US Customs and Border Protection spokesman plans to deploy 50 Border Patrol agents and 50 field operations customs officers in nine areas, according to the agency. Specially trained officers will be sent to cities including Los Angeles, Chicago and New York.
Additional agents are expected to be sent to San Francisco, Boston, New Orleans, Detroit, Newark, N.J., and other cities, according to the agency. The deployment of the teams will run from February through May.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and LAPD chief Michel Moore released a video on Saturday saying local police won’t be working with ICE.
‘‘Regardless of your immigration status, I want every Angeleno to know your city is on your side. Here in Los Angeles, our police department does not coordinate with ICE or participate in immigration enforcement,’’ Garcetti said on Twitter.
L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva also released a statement saying, ‘‘I strongly oppose this irresponsible deployment of federal SWAT agents in Los Angeles County for civil immigration enforcement.’’
– LA Times