The Police Commission of the city has given its approval to a report on the Los Angeles Police Department’s unwavering commitment to not enforcing immigration law. This comes as the city officials are preparing to introduce an ordinance that would officially declare Los Angeles as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. The report, titled “2022 Report on Immigration Enforcement, Task Force Reporting Requirements, and Department Operations,” was unanimously approved by the commissioners. Its purpose is to ensure that the department does not engage in any enforcement actions related to immigration status violations.
According to the report, the LAPD received 783 detainer requests from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2022, all of which were rejected. Additionally, the report provides a breakdown of various joint task forces conducted by the LAPD and other law enforcement agencies in 2022. In each case, no arrests were made for immigration enforcement purposes.
The police officials emphasized that their top priority is public safety and building trust with immigrant communities. They aim to demonstrate transparency and reach out to all immigrants, ensuring that victims and witnesses feel safe and comfortable contacting the police, reporting crimes, and providing necessary information, regardless of their immigration status. Their ultimate goal is to maximize public safety for everyone.
The LAPD collaborates with federal law enforcement agencies, including ICE and Homeland Security, on various operations to combat crimes that impact vulnerable communities, such as human trafficking and child pornography. In 2022, the LAPD participated in 20 interagency task forces, resulting in 941 arrests. Notably, none of these arrests were related to immigration enforcement.
The report highlights that the LAPD continues to comply with its Immigration Enforcement Procedures, which align with the California Values Act. This act, in effect since January 2018, prohibits California law enforcement agencies, including the LAPD, from using resources to assist federal immigration enforcement agencies. It designates certain locations, such as schools, hospitals, and courthouses, as “safe spaces” for all community members. Over the years, the LAPD has updated its policies to no longer inquire about a person’s place of birth unless necessary for a criminal investigation.
However, the report notes that individuals suspected of committing crimes are fingerprinted through a decentralized automated booking system, and their information is entered into the National Crime Information Center. This database is accessible to local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies.
The release of this report coincides with the efforts of the Los Angeles City Council to formally establish Los Angeles as a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. In June, the council approved a motion directing the city attorney to prepare a draft ordinance within 60 days to prevent the utilization of city resources, property, or personnel for federal immigration enforcement. The proposed ordinance would also prohibit city cooperation with federal immigration authorities in the execution of their duties, aligning with former Mayor Eric Garcetti’s 2019 executive directive. The council members will review the ordinance after their summer recess, starting on August 1.
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