LA City Leaders Tell Immigration Agents To Stop Calling Themselves 'Police'

LOS ANGELES, CA — Three of Los Angeles' most prominent leaders sent a letter to the local U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services director Thursday asking her to stop immigration agents from identifying themselves as "police."

Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Attorney Mike Feuer and Council President Herb Wesson all signed the letter, which was sent to David Marin, ICE deputy field office director for Enforcement and Removal Operations, and cited a recent Los Angeles Times story that claimed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have been identifying themselves as "police" when arresting or detaining individuals for immigration violations.

The letter said the LAPD encourages victims and witnesses of crimes to come forward irrespective of their immigration status because it increases the department's ability to protect and serve the community.

"As a result, when ICE agents target immigrants identifying themselves only as `police' officers, they undermine decades of this work, eroding public safety in our city," the letter said. "In Los Angeles, the term `police' is synonymous with the Los Angeles Police Department."

The letter comes after the three leaders have all expressed strong opposition to President Trump's executive order on immigration that seeks to increase deportations.

ICE officials did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

City News Service