DHS Slams California City for Terminating ICE Contract

The City of Glendale, California, has officially terminated its longstanding contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), igniting a wave of responses from local officials and federal authorities. This decision comes as a direct response to mounting public protests against aggressive immigration enforcement and heightened deportation policies under the Trump administration.

Glendale, California

The announcement was made on Sunday, with city officials declaring that the agreement, which allowed detainees to be held at the Glendale Police Department, would no longer be in effect. This change, they noted, would complicate family visits and limit access to legal resources, drawing a mixed reaction from the community. City officials stated, “Despite the transparency and safeguards the city has upheld, the city recognizes that public perception of the ICE contract — no matter how limited or carefully managed, no matter the good — has become divisive.”

DHS vs California

The action of terminating the agreement has drawn sharp criticism from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin publicly expressed her dismay, calling the decision “deeply disturbing” while alleging that local leaders were prioritizing “criminal illegal aliens” over the safety of their citizens. “It is deeply disturbing that sanctuary politicians in Glendale, California, would terminate an agreement to hold ICE detainees and violent criminals — which the city has had with DHS for more than 15 years — just as violent rioters are destroying Los Angeles and assaulting federal law enforcement,” McLaughlin said.

Newsom Takes on Trump

The conflict between state and federal officials intensified after widespread protests erupted across Los Angeles over recent ICE raids designed to deport undocumented immigrants. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets, some clashing with law enforcement in the wake of what many protesters deemed an unjust crackdown on immigrant communities. There have also been reports of arson, looting and more than 40 arrests in recent weeks. The mayor of Glendale, Ara Najarian, along with California Governor Gavin Newsom, has publicly opposed the Trump administration’s approach to immigration. In response to the turmoil, Newsom stated in a post on X, “The President of the United States just called for the arrest of a sitting Governor. This is a day I hoped I would never see in America. I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican, this is a line we cannot cross as a nation — this is an unmistakable step toward authoritarianism.”

Public Outcry

As the public outcry against federal immigration actions continues to grow, it has prompted state officials to take legal measures against the federal government. Governor Newsom’s administration filed a lawsuit aiming to challenge the legality of the National Guard’s deployment to Los Angeles. Newsom claimed that only about 300 of the originally scheduled 2,000 National Guard troops had been deployed. He labeled Trump’s order as an infringement on California’s sovereignty. In the face of escalating tensions, McLaughlin reiterated the federal administration’s stance, declaring, “[Homeland Security] Secretary [Kristi] Noem has a clear message for the L.A. rioters and sanctuary politicians: You will not stop us or slow us down. ICE will continue to enforce the law.”

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