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After a couple of Bay Area cities recently saw federal agents conduct operations, law enforcement agencies in the Tri-Valley recommitted their stances on not aiding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of policies in place that prohibit officers from sharing information or enforcing any national immigration laws.
And while Pleasanton city communications Manager Heather Tiernan confirmed as of Wednesday that the city has not received any communications from the federal government in regards to potential ICE operations in the city, Pleasanton Mayor Jack Balch wanted to reassure all residents that the city values everyone, regardless of immigration status.
“I understand that individuals without legal status who contribute to our city may still feel uncertainty and fear,” Balch told the Weekly. “We remain committed to upholding our shared values and prioritizing policies that promote safety, trust and compassion throughout our city.”
Over the past week, ICE has been ramping up its operations throughout the South Bay in San Jose with two confirmed reports near east side San Jose, according to the Rapid Response Network Santa Clara.
According to ICE’s official website, the agency is primarily targeting undocumented folks with criminal backgrounds. However, as many communities have shown in recent protests across the Bay Area, there is always an underlying fear that local law enforcement agencies might be helping ICE conduct these operations.
But in the Tri-Valley, that appears far from the case.
According to a press release from the Pleasanton Police Department last Friday, officers will not play any roles in enforcing immigration laws.
“Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals living in our city, regardless of immigration status,” according to the press release.
Livermore Police Department public information officer Azenith Smith also told the Weekly the department’s policy follows state law and recognizes that the “immigration status of individuals, absent other criminal behavior, is not a matter for local police action”.
Smith added that LPD does not provide information regarding an individual’s immigration status to ICE and due to state law and department policy, LPD is “not allowed to inquire about someone’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes”.
While the San Ramon Police Department did not offer any specific comments, it did point to its policy handbook which states “(SRPD) officers shall not inquire into an individual’s immigration status for immigration enforcement purposes.”
Over in Dublin, Capt. Miguel Campos explained that because the city of Dublin contracts its law enforcement services out to the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office, Dublin Police Services will continue to follow all directives from the sheriff’s office — including all directives and policies regarding immigration enforcement.
He also referred to a Jan. 21 press release from the sheriff’s office that attempted to dispel any concerns about ICE operations in Alameda County and told folks to not share any unverified information regarding ICE.
“The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has become aware of unfounded information being disseminated through various electronic formats and via word of mouth that suggests that targeted enforcement by … (ICE) is underway in several of the local communities we serve. We want to assure you that this information is false,” according to the press release.
The sheriff’s office also confirmed in the press release that it too does not comply with administrative immigration warrants.
The PPD press release further states that the department supports a statement released last week by the California Police Chiefs Association — which is led by Pleasanton’s new Police Chief Tracy Avelar — which emphasizes how important it is to local law enforcement agencies to protect all Californians, including immigrants.
“Expected changes in federal immigration enforcement policies have caused fear throughout our immigrant communities, including confusion and uncertainty as to what role local police may play in these new directives,” Avelar said in the Jan. 21 association statement. “It has never been the role of local police to enforce federal immigration law, nor should it be our responsibility.”
According to PPD, it is also important to foster trust within the community in order to encourage residents to report crimes and cooperate with law enforcement without the “fear of immigration-related consequences.”
“The safety of our community is our guiding focus, and we remain committed to addressing criminal activity and safeguarding every individual, regardless of their immigration status. While federal immigration enforcement policies may evolve, it has never been the role of local police to enforce federal immigration laws.
In response to these growing concerns the Alameda County Board of Supervisors also recently formed a new committee this week that will provide advice on how the county should respond to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies.
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‘According to a press release from the Pleasanton Police Department last Friday, officers will not play any roles in enforcing immigration laws.’
“Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals living in our city, regardless of immigration status,” according to the press release.
If you’re going to avoid the oath you took then please get out of the way while ICE adheres to theirs.
‘According to a press release from the Pleasanton Police Department last Friday, officers will not play any roles in enforcing immigration laws.’
“Our priority is to ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals living in our city, regardless of immigration status,” according to the press release.
If you’re going to avoid the oath you took then please get out of the way while ICE adheres to theirs.
Good. The costs of increased immigration enforcement should not be put on city budgets. Immigration enforcement is a federal matter and should only occur through federal agencies. To do otherwise would expose individual cities to an unthinkable level of civil liability and other financial costs. Our officers have not been trained to enforce federal immigration laws. Let’s not set our officers up for failure.
Our officers have been trained to do the task that they are asked to do. All that our cities are asked to do is accept a detainer from ICE when they have a person in-custody. The detainer asks them to notify ICE when the person is going to be released so that they may take them into custody. It is amazing to me that when our officials talk they always forget the adjective that precedes the immigrant that they want to protect, “illegal”. Bet if someone walked into you house and camped out in your living room that you would call the police and have them removed. It is the same thing but on a larger scale. I find it hard to believe that we can all pick & chose which laws we want to obey.
Thank you to the major and PPD for explaining their take. Immigrants are people who have long lived and worked among us, benefiting all. ICE needs to stay out of our churches, schools, and workplaces.
From 10/2019 through 6/2024 U.S. Customs and Border Protection reports that just under 11 million illegals have crossed borders into the United States. In 2019 members of our family paid the required fees, and submitted the required medical documentation. Today five years later they continue waiting for authorization to enter the United States as legal immigrants.
“not aiding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in light of policies in place that prohibit officers from sharing information or enforcing any national immigration laws.”
Never, under no circumstances??
Makes no sense.
Hotline for contacting ICE 866-347-2423 America and Canada. Or ice.gov.
Hotline from any country in the world 802-872-6199.
Not just for immigration, but also for child exploitation. and many other crimes.
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