LA Council Acts to Curb Immigration Enforcement Impersonation
New measures aim to increase transparency and accountability within the LAPD.
In response to mounting community anxieties, two Los Angeles City Council members are pushing for policies to enhance oversight of immigration enforcement activities. The core proposals involve mandating identification verification by LAPD officers and increasing penalties for individuals falsely representing law enforcement, aiming to restore trust and ensure public safety.
Motions Introduced for Clarity
Council members Eunisses Hernandez and Bob Blumenfield jointly introduced motions to address growing concerns over federal immigration enforcement in the city. The council referred these proposals to the Civil Rights, Equity, Immigration, Aging, and Disability Committee for review.
“Angelenos are overwhelmed with fear and confusion right now, especially immigrant and mixed-status families,” Hernandez stated. She described incidents of unmarked vehicles and plainclothes individuals detaining people without warrants or identification, even to other law enforcement officers.
The first motion aims to codify and bolster LAPD Policy Notice 11.2. This notice provides procedures for LAPD’s response to federal immigration enforcement. The proposed city ordinance would require LAPD officers to verify the identities of anyone claiming to be a law enforcement officer, including federal agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“Not long ago it would seem unfathomable that we’d need legislation like this but our communities are under attack and more often than not, we have no idea if the people behind the mask and gun are real agents,”
—Bob Blumenfield, City Council Member
Protecting Residents’ Rights
The second motion, if approved, would task the city attorney with increasing penalties for anyone impersonating public safety officers. Furthermore, it would reaffirm the rights of residents to request and receive proof of identity and legal authorization during any law enforcement action.
Hernandez cited the city of Huntington Park as inspiration, where the mayor, Arturo Flores, denounced what he called “masked abductions” amid immigration raids. He also directed the local police to intervene in operations deemed unlawful.
A recent raid in Huntington Park, which involved U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, drew criticism after agents targeted a home. The residents, including a pregnant mother of four, were distressed by the situation. The councilwoman remarked that “they want to see accountability…There’s a lot of concern.”
According to a 2023 report by the Pew Research Center, roughly 33% of adults in the United States have reported having contact with police. (Pew Research Center).
Hernandez previously introduced legislation aimed at gathering more data regarding LAPD’s responses to ICE activity and protests against immigration enforcement.
Looking Ahead
These proposed measures reflect a broader push for transparency and accountability in Los Angeles regarding immigration enforcement. The goal is to both protect residents from potential abuses and clarify the roles of law enforcement agencies.
