Pro-immigrant leaders, members of the LA Sanctuary Coalition urged the Police Commission of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) and Chief Jim McDonnell himself to fully comply with Sanctuary policies in the city of Los Angeles.
“Unfortunately the LAPD has been delaying the implementation of the Sanctuary Ordinance that contains strong measures against the deportation machine and they continue to assist ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) in their operations,” said Carlos Amador, most popular organizer of the CLEAN Car Wash Workers Center.
“The LAPD is saying that they have a duty to respond when they are called for support, but what they really do is prevent people from documenting abuses by immigration agents, prevent them from approaching them, and help the Migra get out of your neighborhood raids without problems.”
The City of Los Angeles passed a Sanctuary Ordinance in 2024, and over the past two years, the LAPD has continued to delay and fail to fully implement the City of Los Angeles’ sanctuary protections.
At the same time, the Los Angeles Police Commission has not taken the necessary steps to ensure the LAPD’s full compliance with these sanctuary policies.
Amador said that at the same time they have demanded that the LAPD stop contracts with companies like FLOCK that focus on removing license plates, and that collaborate with immigration agencies, providing them with information on undocumented drivers.
“We want to put a stop to this type of monitoring because we have reports that vehicle license plate information is shared with other immigration agencies, but the police pay no attention.”
He said that it is of no use for the Council and the City of Los Angeles to approve ordinances to protect immigrants, because they do not have control over what the police ultimately decide to carry out.
“Police Commission President Teresa Gordon had invited us to make a formal presentation to present examples of abuse, but at the last minute our participation was canceled, and we were only able to speak during the public comment session,” he said.
In closing, he noted that the Police Commission made no commitment or promise for the LAPD to comply with the Sanctuary Ordinance.
“They turn a deaf ear; the police do what they want, assisting the Migra. Since June 6, 2025, they have been there helping the police as they did in the raid of the Ambiance clothing factory in the Fashion District.”
TheLA Sanctuary CoalitionCouncilwoman Eunisses Hernández, and Executive Orders 12 and 17 from Mayor Bass have, together, provided guidelines and recommendations for the LAPD to follow.
The LAPD has not updated its handbook, FAQs, or guidance to limit the department’s responses to requests for support from federal immigration enforcement agencies to the maximum extent permitted by law.
“We want to make sure the LAPD follows the rules and abides by the laws. I have participated in meetings with Chief McDonald where he has stated, ‘I will follow the law,'” said Martha Arévalo, executive director of CARECEN Los Angeles.
“Well, Chief McDonald, you are not following the law. The LAPD is not following the law.”
He emphasized that they have worked tirelessly to strengthen this ordinance.
However, he noted that unfortunately, since June 2025, Los Angeles has experienced an uptick in attacks by federal immigration enforcement authorities, including raids and operations that have raised serious concerns regarding racial profiling, excessive use of force, and threats to community safety.
Raw testimony
During the press conference, prior to the Police Commission meeting, a warehouse worker and member of the Garment Worker Heart, detained by ICE at the Ambiance Manufacturing facility, recalled that on June 6, the agents blocked all the entrances, forcing them to be trapped.
“At that moment, I thought about my family; and I secretly sent them a message. When my children arrived at the center trying to look for me, they couldn’t get close. The police and the national guard had already blocked the streets.
“In the afternoon, my sister tried to see me in the detention center but she couldn’t because the police and agents closed everything due to the protests. I was in detention in Adelanto for three weeks. It was something inhuman that I wouldn’t wish on even my worst enemy. One of my colleagues who was also in Adelanto just died.
“We are workers but they treated us like criminals. What surprised me was when I saw many videos of the LAPD working as escorts, giving them the pass to ICE when we were kidnapped in those same cars that they let through.
“The LAPD says they don’t work with ICE but that’s not true. The police should support us instead of betraying us.”
The worker said that the least the local government can do is ensure that when ICE comes to kidnap more people, the police do not support them; and instead help the community in the most traumatic moments.
The Opinion has asked the LAPD for Chief McDonnell’s reaction to the immigrant groups’ request.
LA Police collaborate with immigration only in arrests of violent criminals
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