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Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
L.A. law enforcement leaders walk tightrope in missives about immigration crackdown
While publicly chastising groups protesting immigration raids, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell has offered support to officers in his Latino-majority department who may have mixed feelings about the Trump administration's crackdown. In a department-wide missive sent out earlier this week as protests ramped up, McDonnell acknowledged some officers were "facing criticism from the community or wrestling with the personal impact," of recent events and needed support. "When federal immigration enforcement actions take place in communities that may reflect your own heritage, neighborhoods, or even your family's story, it can create a deep and painful conflict," he wrote. "You may be wearing the uniform and fulfilling your duty, but inside, you're asked to hold a complex mix of emotions." It was an unusual display of solidarity for a chief who has rarely waded into the contentious immigration debate. McDonnell has bristled over criticism about his relationship with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while serving as Los Angeles County Sheriff during Trump's first term. Read more: How L.A. law enforcement got pulled into the fight over Trump's immigration crackdown In interviews and public comments since becoming chief McDonnell has sought to distance himself from a policy as sheriff that allowed federal immigration authorities to operate freely, targeting people for deportation in the nation's largest jail system. Both McDonnell and current L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna have stressed that their departments do not cooperate with federal authorities solely for immigration purposes — polices adopted long ago to help build trust within the city's diverse communities. In his own message to his department this week, Luna thanked deputies for their "professionalism, resolve, and unwavering dedication" — but only briefly alluded to the immigration debate. "Despite the complexity of this situation — made even more challenging by the heightened political environment — I trust and fully expect that you will continue to demonstrate the same level of excellence, thoughtfulness, and integrity that have brought us this far," Luna said. Critics of local law enforcement actions in recent days note that racial bias also remains a contentious issue, with LAPD officers pulling over and shooting Latino Angelenos at a higher rate than their share of the overall population. When asked about how he is working to keep the city's immigrant population safe, McDonnell often cites Special Order 40, the landmark policy adopted in 1979 that forbids LAPD officers from stopping people to inquire about their citizenship status. But Trump's actions have put the chief and other local leaders in the awkward position of having to defend federal officers and property — while also trying to communicate that they are not on the side of immigration agents. In his recent message to department employees, McDonnell said he recognized they "may feel loyalty, frustration, fear, or sometimes even shame as the community mistakenly views you as part of something that you are not." The public may not "see the nuance," of the LAPD's postion, he said, because "simply being present can make it seem like you support an action you may not agree with, or that you're complicit in pain affecting your own community." Publicly, though, the chief has struck a different, sometimes defensive tone, often focusing his remarks on destruction caused by some protesters. At a City Council hearing Tuesday, he sparred with city leaders who challenged the department's relationship with federal authorities. In one exchange, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said he disagreed with the chief on referring to agencies such as ICE as 'law enforcement partners.' 'I don't care what badge they have on or whose orders they're under. They're not our partners," Harris-Dawson said. Read more: The LAPD is still paying for George Floyd protest tactics. Will lawsuits force change? Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, who sits on the Council's public safety committee and represents an Echo Park-to-Hollywood district, said in a statement to The Times that he wasn't surprised that Latino police officers may be feeling conflicted. "Families are being ripped apart, and I'd bet nearly every one of them has a parent or relative who's undocumented, or were even undocumented themselves at some point," said Soto-Martinez. Art Placencia, a retired LAPD detective, recalled being a young cop on the job in the years when cops would arrest Latinos simply because they believed that they might be in the country illegally and deliver them into federal custody. The LAPD of today is vastly different than when he was on the job, he said. Prodded by lawsuits and consent decrees, the once-mostly white department has grown to become more than half Latino, which more or less mirrors the city's demographics. And while Latino officials are under-represented in the LAPD's upper echelons, they wield more political clout than ever, Placencia said. Placencia, the former president of an prominent association for Latino officers that once sued the LAPD for discrimination in promotion decisions, said McDonnell is caught in a bind of having to navigate the city's left-leaning politics while also backing up his rank-and-file officers on the front lines against hostile crowds. "He's gotta show that he's concerned about the officers and their feelings," said Placencia. "They're the ones that are out there, they're the ones that are getting rocks thrown at them." In past interviews, McDonnell has spoken proudly about his immigrant upbringing — both of his parents moved to Boston from Ireland a year before he was born — saying that he understands the struggle of trying to make a better life in America. But as sheriff he also came under fire by breaking ranks with many other area politicians by opposing a 'sanctuary state' bill that sought to prevent federal immigration agents from taking custody of people being released from California jails. The selection of McDonnell last November came as a disappointment among some within the department, who had hoped Bass would pick Robert Arcos, a third-generation Mexican American, who had the backing of some powerful Latino civic leaders and would have been the first Latino chief of a city that is more than 50% Latino. Ruben Lopez, a retired LAPD SWAT lieutenant, said he appreciated that McDonnell decided to address the internal moral dilemma that some officers face. Lopez remembers wrestling with similar feelings when, as a young cop, he was on the front lines of a massive protest over Proposition 187, a controversial law that would bar undocumented immigrants from receiving public school educations and a range of other state- and county-funded benefits. "I remember some of the command staff wanted to be more aggressive, and I felt these were just families and kids wanting to exercise their right to protest," he said. "Because if we don't have that trust in the community, including immigrant communities then we're not going to get that collaborative approach to police a city of this size." Times staff writer Connor Sheets contributed reporting. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
L.A. law enforcement leaders walk tightrope in missives about immigration crackdown
While publicly chastising groups protesting immigration raids, Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell has offered support to officers in his Latino-majority department who may have mixed feelings about the Trump administration's crackdown. In a department-wide missive sent out earlier this week as protests ramped up, McDonnell acknowledged some officers were 'facing criticism from the community or wrestling with the personal impact,' of recent events and needed support. 'When federal immigration enforcement actions take place in communities that may reflect your own heritage, neighborhoods, or even your family's story, it can create a deep and painful conflict,' he wrote. 'You may be wearing the uniform and fulfilling your duty, but inside, you're asked to hold a complex mix of emotions.' It was an unusual display of solidarity for a chief who has rarely waded into the contentious immigration debate. McDonnell has bristled over criticism about his relationship with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement while serving as Los Angeles County Sheriff during Trump's first term. In interviews and public comments since becoming chief McDonnell has sought to distance himself from a policy as sheriff that allowed federal immigration authorities to operate freely, targeting people for deportation in the nation's largest jail system. Both McDonnell and current L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna have stressed that their departments do not cooperate with federal authorities solely for immigration purposes — polices adopted long ago to help build trust within the city's diverse communities. In his own message to his department this week, Luna thanked deputies for their 'professionalism, resolve, and unwavering dedication' — but only briefly alluded to the immigration debate. 'Despite the complexity of this situation — made even more challenging by the heightened political environment — I trust and fully expect that you will continue to demonstrate the same level of excellence, thoughtfulness, and integrity that have brought us this far,' Luna said. Critics of local law enforcement actions in recent days note that racial bias also remains a contentious issue, with LAPD officers pulling over and shooting Latino Angelenos at a higher rate than their share of the overall population. When asked about how he is working to keep the city's immigrant population safe, McDonnell often cites Special Order 40, the landmark policy adopted in 1979 that forbids LAPD officers from stopping people to inquire about their citizenship status. But Trump's actions have put the chief and other local leaders in the awkward position of having to defend federal officers and property — while also trying to communicate that they are not on the side of immigration agents. In his recent message to department employees, McDonnell said he recognized they 'may feel loyalty, frustration, fear, or sometimes even shame as the community mistakenly views you as part of something that you are not.' The public may not 'see the nuance,' of the LAPD's postion, he said, because 'simply being present can make it seem like you support an action you may not agree with, or that you're complicit in pain affecting your own community.' Publicly, though, the chief has struck a different, sometimes defensive tone, often focusing his remarks on destruction caused by some protesters. At a City Council hearing Tuesday, he sparred with city leaders who challenged the department's relationship with federal authorities. In one exchange, City Council President Marqueece Harris-Dawson said he disagreed with the chief on referring to agencies such as ICE as 'law enforcement partners.' 'I don't care what badge they have on or whose orders they're under. They're not our partners,' Harris-Dawson said. Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, who sits on the Council's public safety committee and represents an Echo Park-to-Hollywood district, said in a statement to The Times that he wasn't surprised that Latino police officers may be feeling conflicted. 'Families are being ripped apart, and I'd bet nearly every one of them has a parent or relative who's undocumented, or were even undocumented themselves at some point,' said Soto-Martinez. Art Placencia, a retired LAPD detective, recalled being a young cop on the job in the years when cops would arrest Latinos simply because they believed that they might be in the country illegally and deliver them into federal custody. The LAPD of today is vastly different than when he was on the job, he said. Prodded by lawsuits and consent decrees, the once-mostly white department has grown to become more than half Latino, which more or less mirrors the city's demographics. And while Latino officials are under-represented in the LAPD's upper echelons, they wield more political clout than ever, Placencia said. Placencia, the former president of an prominent association for Latino officers that once sued the LAPD for discrimination in promotion decisions, said McDonnell is caught in a bind of having to navigate the city's left-leaning politics while also backing up his rank-and-file officers on the front lines against hostile crowds. 'He's gotta show that he's concerned about the officers and their feelings,' said Placencia. They're the ones that are out there, they're the ones that are getting rocks thrown at them.' In past interviews, McDonnell has spoken proudly about his immigrant upbringing — both of his parents moved to Boston from Ireland a year before he was born — saying that he understands the struggle of trying to make a better life in America. But as sheriff he also came under fire by breaking ranks with many other area politicians by opposing a 'sanctuary state' bill that sought to prevent federal immigration agents from taking custody of people being released from California jails. The selection of McDonnell last November came as a disappointment among some within the department, who had hoped Bass would Arcos, a third-generation Mexican American, had the backing of some powerful Latino civic leaders and would have been the first Latino chief of a city that is more than 50% Latino. Ruben Lopez, a retired LAPD SWAT lieutenant, said he appreciated that McDonnell decided to address the internal moral dilemma that some officers face. Lopez remembers wrestling with similar feelings when, as a young cop, he was on the front lines of a massive protest over Proposition 187, a controversial law that would bar undocumented immigrants from receiving public school educations and a range of other state- and county-funded benefits. 'I remember some of the command staff wanted to be more aggressive, and I felt these were just families and kids wanting to exercise their right to protest,' he said. 'Because if we don't have that trust in the community, including immigrant communities then we're not going to get that collaborative approach to police a city of this size.' Times staff writer Connor Sheets contributed reporting.
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Activists warn Police Commission about ICE access to LAPD data on immigrants
Activists rallied outside LAPD headquarters on Tuesday to denounce department policies that allow information sharing with federal agencies, a concern amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. In a letter to the LAPD's civilian Police Commission, several watchdog groups said public assurances by city officials that L.A. won't cooperate in deportations ring hollow. Federal authorities, the letter said, already have access to the vast trove of information gathered by the LAPD's license plate readers, body-worn cameras and other surveillance methods. Read more: A rich L.A. neighborhood donated surveillance technology to the LAPD — then drama ensued The Police Department's frequent collaborations with federal law enforcement on investigations "means that any data that is obtained by LAPD will become accessible to federal immigration authorities," the activist group Stop LAPD Spying and others wrote in the letter. Since President Trump returned to office, city officials have considered different proposals to protect the city's immigrant communities, even in the face of White House threats to withhold federal funds. In December, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced a sanctuary law barring city employees and city property from being used to 'investigate, cite, arrest, hold, transfer or detain any person' for the purpose of immigration enforcement. The activists said they obtained department reports through public records requests that shed light on how interconnected police departments are with one another. As as example, they said, details about a motorist who has been pulled over by the LAPD — such as their name, date of birth, social media handles and other biographic details — could be turned over to intelligence-gathering offices called fusion centers, which local police and federal authorities use to share information on potential threats or terrorist attacks. Read more: LAPD chief ousts lawyer blamed by union for disclosing thousands of officer photos In recent years, fusion centers like the one in Norwalk have focused more on routine street crime. The ability of federal authorities to access the LAPD's information from the centers undermines the city's promises to protect immigrants, said Stop LAPD Spying organizer Hamid Khan at a rally before the commission's regular meeting on Tuesday. "And it's not [like] LAPD has to pick up the phone: It's baked in. It's on autopilot," Khan said. "The only way this will be a sanctuary city is if the source of information is stopped." The LAPD has long vowed to shield sensitive information about people whom officers encounter. A department policy called Special Order 40 prohibits initiating contact with anyone for the sole purpose of learning their immigration status. Police also are not allowed to make arrests solely for immigration reasons. The aim, officials have said, is to ensure crime victims, witnesses and others are willing to come forward without fear of being detained and removed from the country. An exception to the restrictions on cooperation with immigration officials has been carved out for law enforcement investigating serious offenses, such as violent crimes. Ron Gochez, a member of Unión del Barrio, said he was present at a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in which agents swarmed an apartment building in the 400 block of East 41st Street. Also present at the scene, he said, were a number of LAPD officers. Gochez, whose group seeks to defend immigrant rights, alleged that some of those officers dragged him away when he tried to question the ICE agents, who officials later said were searching for a suspected human trafficker. The department has said its officers were there to help direct traffic, not to engage in the enforcement action — a claim Gochez disputed. "The Los Angeles Police Department did the dirty work," Gochez said. Read more: Secret recordings reveal LAPD cops spewing racist and sexist comments, complaint alleges LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's record on immigration has faced renewed scrutiny since he took over the department last fall. During his tenure as Los Angeles County sheriff, which coincided with Trump's first term, McDonnell allowed federal immigration authorities to operate freely in the nation's largest jail system, targeting people who'd been arrested for deportation. McDonnell and some of his supporters have said his administration handed over only the most dangerous criminals to federal authorities, in keeping with the laws. Public support for immigrants remains strong in California, which has more immigrants than any other state. According to the USC Equity Research Institute, more than 60% of L.A. County's 10 million residents either are foreign-born or have at least one immigrant parent, including about 800,000 people without legal status. Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
16-04-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Activists warn Police Commission about ICE access to LAPD data on immigrants
Activists rallied outside LAPD headquarters on Tuesday to denounce department policies that allow information sharing with federal agencies, a concern amid the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. In a letter to the LAPD's civilian Police Commission, several watchdog groups said public assurances by city officials that L.A. won't cooperate in deportations ring hollow. Federal authorities, the letter said, already have access to the vast trove of information gathered by the LAPD's license plate readers, body-worn cameras and other surveillance methods. The Police Department's frequent collaborations with federal law enforcement on investigations 'means that any data that is obtained by LAPD will become accessible to federal immigration authorities,' the activist group Stop LAPD Spying and others wrote in the letter. Since President Trump returned to office, city officials have considered different proposals to protect the city's immigrant communities, even in the face of White House threats to withhold federal funds. In December, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced a sanctuary law barring city employees and city property from being used to 'investigate, cite, arrest, hold, transfer or detain any person' for the purpose of immigration enforcement. The activists said they obtained department reports through public records requests that shed light on how interconnected police departments are with one another. As as example, they said, details about a motorist who has been pulled over by the LAPD — such as their name, date of birth, social media handles and other biographic details — could be turned over to intelligence-gathering offices called fusion centers, which local police and federal authorities use to share information on potential threats or terrorist attacks. In recent years, fusion centers like the one in Norwalk have focused more on routine street crime. The ability of federal authorities to access the LAPD's information from the centers undermines the city's promises to protect immigrants, said Stop LAPD Spying organizer Hamid Khan at a rally before the commission's regular meeting on Tuesday. 'And it's not [like] LAPD has to pick up the phone: It's baked in. It's on autopilot,' Khan said. 'The only way this will be a sanctuary city is if the source of information is stopped.' The LAPD has long vowed to shield sensitive information about people whom officers encounter. A department policy called Special Order 40 prohibits initiating contact with anyone for the sole purpose of learning their immigration status. Police also are not allowed to make arrests solely for immigration reasons. The aim, officials have said, is to ensure crime victims, witnesses and others are willing to come forward without fear of being detained and removed from the country. An exception to the restrictions on cooperation with immigration officials has been carved out for law enforcement investigating serious offenses, such as violent crimes. Ron Gochez, a member of Unión del Barrio, said he was present at a recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid in which agents swarmed an apartment building in the 400 block of East 41st Street. Also present at the scene, he said, were a number of LAPD officers. Gochez, whose group seeks to defend immigrant rights, alleged that some of those officers dragged him away when he tried to question the ICE agents, who officials later said were searching for a suspected human trafficker. The department has said its officers were there to help direct traffic, not to engage in the enforcement action — a claim Gochez disputed. 'The Los Angeles Police Department did the dirty work,' Gochez said. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell's record on immigration has faced renewed scrutiny since he took over the department last fall. During his tenure as Los Angeles County sheriff, which coincided with Trump's first term, McDonnell allowed federal immigration authorities to operate freely in the nation's largest jail system, targeting people who'd been arrested for deportation. McDonnell and some of his supporters have said his administration handed over only the most dangerous criminals to federal authorities, in keeping with the laws. Public support for immigrants remains strong in California, which has more immigrants than any other state. According to the USC Equity Research Institute, more than 60% of L.A. County's 10 million residents either are foreign-born or have at least one immigrant parent, including about 800,000 people without legal status.
