Glendale Ends Agreement to House ICE Detainees
Glendale's decision is the latest in a broader movement by California cities to distance themselves from federal immigration enforcement efforts
Glendale Ends Agreement to House ICE Detainees Credit: RDNE Stock Project | Pexels
Amid growing protests and community outcry over federal immigration raids in Southern California, the city of Glendale has officially terminated its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house immigration detainees at its city jail.
In a statement released Sunday night, city officials cited public values and state law in their decision to end the longstanding agreement. “After careful consideration, the City of Glendale has decided to end its agreement with U.S. Homeland Security/ICE to house federal immigration detainees,” the statement read. “This local decision reflects our core values: public safety, transparency, and community trust.”
The move comes in the wake of a Los Angeles Times investigation revealing that Glendale had continued to honor a 2007 contract with ICE, despite the passage of SB 54—the California Values Act—which restricts the use of local resources for federal immigration enforcement. That revelation triggered criticism from community members and immigrant rights advocates.
While the city acknowledged that ending the contract could make it more difficult for families to visit detained loved ones, local advocacy groups hailed the decision as a vital step in upholding California’s sanctuary policies.
“After the horrific raids and violations this weekend, it is all the more important that our local communities stand together to protect our immigrant brothers and sisters as intended in the California Values Act,” said Sarah Houston, an immigration attorney with the Immigrant Defenders Law Center.
The announcement also follows a weekend of escalating protests, during which David Huerta, a regional president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), was arrested. In response, California labor leaders are now planning additional rallies in downtown Los Angeles this week in a show of solidarity with immigrant communities.
Glendale’s decision is the latest in a broader movement by California cities to distance themselves from federal immigration enforcement efforts, reinforcing the state’s commitment to protecting undocumented residents from detention and deportation.
