The city of Glendale, California, announced on Sunday that it is terminating its contract with U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ending the housing of federal immigration detainees at its police department facility.
In a statement, Glendale acknowledged that the public perception of the ICE contract had become divisive, despite the city's efforts to manage it carefully. The city emphasized the importance of maintaining trust with residents and businesses, stating, “At this time, it is in our best interest to not allow that trust to be undermined.”
This decision follows three consecutive days of protests in parts of Los Angeles, where demonstrators clashed with police and federal law enforcement.
The city manager's decision to end the contract was described as a result of careful evaluation of legal, operational, and community considerations, and was explicitly stated to not be politically driven.
For years, federal authorities have relied on detention contracts with local governments and for-profit companies to house individuals detained by immigration agencies. These contracts have been a significant aspect of the federal government's immigration enforcement strategy.
Glendale had been housing immigration detainees since 2007, providing them with access to clean facilities, medical care, family visitation, and legal counsel. However, the city noted that the association with ICE activities posed a risk to public trust, asserting, “The Glendale Police Department does not enforce immigration law.”