On November 18th, President-elect Donald Trump confirmed plans to declare a national emergency to carry out his campaign promise of mass deportations of migrants throughout the United States.
LA County Sheriff Robert Luna has responded that his department does not plan to enforce civil immigration, as this does not fall under the department’s duties. However, not all sheriffs in southern California have shared this sentiment.
President-Elect Trump Confirms Immigration Crackdown
As reported by ABC News, Trump confirmed his plans when he responded to a social media post from Judicial Watch’s Tom Fitton on November 18th. Fitton had posted statements earlier in November that reports demonstrate that the incoming administration is preparing to utilize “military assets” to deport migrants.
Trump responded to Fitton’s statements with the declaration, “TRUE!!!” He has previously pledged to begin mass deportations as soon as he enters office.
“On Day 1, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history to get the criminals out,” Trump was reported saying during a rally at Madison Square Garden near the close of the presidential race.
LA Sheriff’s Department Will Not Change Procedures, Per Sheriff Luna
With fears of mass deportations growing among LA residents, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna has spoken out on his department’s role during these shifts in federal immigration policies. As reported by MSN, Luna states that the department “isn’t changing much” from its current operational procedures.
“The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department does not enforce civil immigration enforcement …,” Luna stated. “So we’ll continue to do what we do.”
Sheriff Luna continued to elaborate on his fears that immigration crackdowns from local police enforcement could erode public trust.
“There’s a lot of rhetoric, and I don’t want people to be afraid to call the sheriff’s department when they need something,” he asserted. “If they’re a witness to crime, if they’re a victim to a crime, they need to call us.”
However, Luna admitted that the sheriff’s department would continue cooperating with federal agencies upon request.
“Now if somebody at the federal government, one of the agencies, is asking for help, we will assist if they need help,” he stated. “We will do that for any law enforcement agency but it does get very technical in regards to when we do or do not help, but what our community needs to know is don’t be afraid to call the sheriff’s department.”
L Police Department to Not Engage in Immigration Enforcement
Like Chief Luna’s policies, the newly appointed Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell stated at his swearing-in ceremony that his department does not intend to engage in immigration enforcement.
“We’re not in that business,” McDonnell said, according to the article by MSN. Regarding possible crackdowns by local police, he asserted, “We will not be doing any of the things that people are worried about recently.”
Riverside County Sheriff to Welcome New Immigration Enforcement
While Sheriff Luna is working to temper fears of police immigration crackdowns in LA County, other southern California sheriffs have expressed enthusiasm for the coming changes in Federal immigration policies.
According to Fox 11, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco has stated he would welcome the federal government into Riverside County to assist mass deportation efforts undertaken by the Trump administration.
“I will do everything in my power to make sure I keep the residents of Riverside County safe,” stated Sheriff Chad Bianco. “If that involves working somehow around SB 54 with ICE so we can deport these people victimizing us and our residents, you can be 100 percent sure I’m going to do that.”
As the incoming Trump administration continues preparations for aggressive immigration reform, the role of local police enforcement across areas of California with large migrant populations remains to be seen.
