The City of Glendale announced on Sunday that it will terminate its agreement with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house federal detainees in its jail. The decision follows pressure from community members and activists who argued that the collaboration violated sanctuary city laws.
The city emphasized that the termination aligns with its core values of public safety, transparency, and community trust. According to a city statement, “The Glendale Police Department does not enforce immigration laws and remains fully compliant with SB 54.” Senate Bill 54, passed in 2017, made California the first sanctuary state, prohibiting state and local law enforcement from allowing federal immigration authorities to use their facilities.
Since January, 82 individuals detained by ICE were housed in the Glendale City Jail, each spending between six to 12 hours there. The city clarified that these detainees were not fingerprinted or booked, and the jail only provided basic necessities such as a bed, food, water, and medical care. No minors were housed at the facility.
The contract with ICE had been in place since 2007. However, critics, including Andres Kwon from the American Civil Liberties Union, viewed the agreement as a violation of California law and an extension of the Trump administration’s deportation agenda. Kwon stated, “Ultimately and effectively, this Glendale contract with ICE is helping the Trump administration carry out its mass deportation agenda that is racist and has abused countless peoples’ constitutional, civil, and human rights.”
The decision to end the contract reflects the city’s commitment to adhering to state laws and addressing community concerns. Glendale’s police chief confirmed that the city remains in full compliance with SB 54.
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