Glendale Ends ICE Detainee Contract Amid Regional Protests

The City of Glendale has officially terminated its contract with U.S. Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to house federal immigration detainees at the Glendale Police Department facility, a partnership in place since 2007. City officials emphasized that the decision was not politically driven but rooted in the city's values of public safety, local accountability, and trust, noting that public perception of the ICE contract had become divisive within the community. Glendale Police Department does not and will not enforce federal immigration laws, remaining in full compliance with California Senate Bill 54, which restricts local law enforcement from immigration enforcement. While the facility offered detainees humane conditions and proximity to family and legal counsel, officials acknowledged that ending the contract may complicate detainees' access to visits and legal representation. The termination comes amid heightened tensions and protests in the Los Angeles area over the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement, which included the deployment of National Guard troops. Despite potential challenges, Glendale leadership expressed confidence that ending the agreement is necessary to maintain community trust and uphold the city's sanctuary policies.