People can report crimes to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department without fear of being deported; deputies do not ask about immigration status during traffic stops or calls for service; and any deputy who asks about immigration status may face administrative action, sheriff’s officials announced in a news release Monday.
The announcement addressed frequently asked questions regarding the sheriff’s department and immigration. Read it below:
Does the LASD work to deport undocumented immigrants? For example, could I be deported during a routine traffic stop or call for help?
Answer: No. Deputies from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department do not ask about immigration status during traffic stops or calls for service. In fact, deputies do not ask immigration status of ANY person, including a victim or witness to any crime. Immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government. Our Department members shall investigate criminal activity without regard to an individual’s immigration status. We shall not initiate police activity with the sole objective of discovering an individual’s immigration status. We shall neither arrest nor book any individual solely on suspicion of violating federal immigration laws relating to illegal entry, being unlawfully present, or overstaying a visa.
What prevents an LASD Deputy from arresting someone for being an undocumented immigrant?
Answer: Our Department policy prohibits our deputies from arresting or booking an individual solely on the suspicion of violating federal immigration laws.
What happens to an LASD Deputy who asks about someone’s immigration status?
Answer: The deputy can be subject to administrative action.
What can an undocumented immigrant do if LASD personnel inquire about their immigration status?
Answer: File a complaint, known as a “Watch Commander’s Service Comment Report,” by contacting a local LASD station or calling the LASD Internal Affairs Bureau.
Can I report crimes without fear of being deported?
Answer: Absolutely, yes. Our policy is to enforce all laws equally for all community members, regardless of the immigration status. Our deputies are prohibited from asking about immigration status and should not be asking. We have built trust within our communities and this trust is the basis for our “Immigration Inquiries and Notifications Policy.” This policy is intended to reassure immigrant communities that there is no need for fear when contacting the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department when they need us most. In fact, we offer U-Visa applications to all victims and witnesses of crime who fit the criteria. The number of U-Visa applications has increased, which is an indication of our strong community partnerships and public trust.
How many inmates were turned over to ICE in 2016?
Answer: In California, we are guided by the TRUST and TRUTH ACTS. In 2016, approximately 312,000 people were released from our custody. Of those, only 1,007 of the most serious and violent offenders were turned over to the custody of ICE agents. This is 1/3 of 1 percent and was only those who qualified as serious and violent offenders and posed significant potential risk to public safety in Los Angeles County.
Our communities benefit from our compliance with the TRUST and TRUTH ACTS so that dangerous criminals do not prey on innocent victims in our communities.
Solski holtzu says
I am offended because nobody is deporting people like me, I am illegally here from Poland. I want to go back to Poland, but the airfare is expensive. Why can’t I get deported. In the last 5 years I have been locked up 4 times, they keep releasing me, I am like NOOOO!!!!
Mr fed up says
Sooooooo! What does the sheriff do if a person gets pulled over w/o license, insurance, registration? Sooo if your black or white u can go to jail and get your car confiscated, or your brown your free to go! Is that it!
No Sanctuary says
If you would like to report illegal aliens, please call Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at 1-866-DHS-2ICE (347-2423).
Tim Scott says
LOL…this should be hilarious. Every redneck idiot will be calling them and crying “I see brown people.”
Tell me, clever one, how exactly do I recognize an illegal alien if I see one?
Ron says
Some clues for you, “clever” one.
1. No English.
2. Mexican ID or fake US ID.
Basically, almost anyone presenting mexican ID is illegal.
I was a bouncer, have seen these people every night at my club.
Jimbo McCrackin says
Well thats an easy question. You can always go buy yourself the book on “how to spot an illegal”. Or i ill give you a few pointers of my own.
#1. If their disguised as cowboys, then their illegal. They think no one will recognize them if they wear cowboy outfits.
#2. If other mexicans cant even understand them, then they are surely illegals.
#3. If their standing out front of Home Depot looking for work daily. Call ICE, not the Sheriff. Sheriff are useless.
And my favorite way
#4. If their selling chicklets for less then a quarter, then their illegal. You cant get anything for a quarter in the U.S. anymore…
SMHX2 says
Ok, @no sanctuary, you caught my attention. How would you know if a person is undocumented? Do you ask them and depending on the accent then place a call to ICE? What a fudging idiot you must be, your momma must love you though- LOL!
gray gray says
Thank you so much for your information No Sanctuary, now can you PLEASE provide me the phone number to report idiots like YOU!!!!!!! You really have nothing better to do, so sad, you’re sad!!!!
Deport them says
Federal laws triumphs state laws, local jurisdictions have to at least notify an illegal alien when they come across one.
Tim Scott says
So, they notify the illegal alien that federal laws has triumphed?
If you are gonna post and repost, read in between.
So, assuming you meant that federal law “trumps” state law…that’s plain BS. Federal, state, and local laws always apply. Who is responsible for enforcing them is determined BY LAW. Federal agencies enforce federal laws, local agencies enforce local laws.
Also assuming that you meant “local jurisdictions have to notify immigration when they come across an illegal alien”…yes. But you need to examine the legal definitions of what you are short-handing as “come across.” There is no requirement that any local law enforcement officer ASK anyone about their immigration status. In fact, as stated here the policy of LASD is specifically NOT to ask. So unless someone charges up to a deputy and says “I’m an illegal alien” there is no way in the course of their job to just “come across” one.
The “for driving purposes only” licenses issued by the DMV are specifically identified IN LAW as not being an indication of immigration status and not to be used as such.
Deport them says
Federal laws triumphs state laws, local jurisdictions have to at least notify an illegal alien when they come across one.
AV supporter says
So a US citizen should not be worried about getting arrested if they commit a federal crime this is a bunch of BS I’m not a racist I have nothing against Latinos are Mexican Americans but I’m calling it how I see it this is total BS
Tim Scott says
Generally speaking you are absolutely correct. A US citizen should not worry about being arrested BY THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT if they commit a federal crime. The LASD does not enforce tax laws. They don’t serve federal warrants. They don’t investigate violations of the Equal Opportunity in Employment regulations. They are not involved in enforcement of any federal laws. They enforce state and local laws, and sometimes there is overlap (murder is a federal crime and a state crime, for example), but they have NEVER been responsible for enforcing immigration law and in fact according to federal law they CAN’T be used to enforce immigration law.
Bottom line, FEDERAL LAWS ARE ENFORCED BY FEDERAL AGENCIES. Always have been. This whole red herring about “sanctuary cities” is so much BS.
Tom says
Then why were there LAPD officers along with probation officers at an immigration raid two years ago at a Van Nuys factory I use to deliver to that made children chairs you see sold on the side of the road. The busses were nice looking boarder and customs charter style. But there was surely a mixture of local and federal officers.
Tim Scott says
Because there were probably several state laws being broken as well…and immigration officers have no jurisdiction over those. Most “raid” situations involve a mix of agencies.
AV supporter says
Tim you seem very knowledgeable about the law can you please answer a question for me how can the state of California charge someone with a federal offense but not enforce the federal law
Tim Scott says
They can’t. If you are charged with a federal offense you will be charged by a US attorney, in a federal court, in front of a federal judge, and if convicted will sentenced to serve time in the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Then you will be released under the supervision of a Federal Probation Officer. The state of California has nothing to do with it.
Unless, as has already been pointed out, you commit some obvious federal crime right in front of local law enforcement, in which case they will arrest you and hold you long enough to turn you over to the appropriate feds. They may also charge you with some sort of parallel crime under state law. For example the state might pick you up for murder but then rather than charging you with (state crime) murder turn you over to the feds to be charged with not only (federal crime) murder but some kind of terrorism charges or organized crime charges or hate crime charges that they can add on that the state can’t.
LASD Sgt says
Sorry Mr.Scott you are wrong if a local or state officer sees a federal crime being committed we will arrest that individual. We don’t get too pick and choose what crimes we wish too enforce. What will happen is the individual will be turned over to federal authorities.
AV supporter says
If that’s the case then you’re wrong because you cannot arrest an immigrant or report them to the feds
Tim Scott says
He could if the crime were committed right in front of him…but AFAIK there’s nowhere in LA County where you can see the border, so illegal entry would be mighty hard for him to witness.
Tim Scott says
Yes, if someone commits a federal crime right in front of you I’d expect that you’d arrest them, and rightly so. The point is that it isn’t your job to investigate possible federal crimes. I assume that you weren’t asking people today whether they got their taxes sent in or filed for an extension. When you stopped for lunch today I’m guessing you didn’t review the establishment’s records to see if they were compliant with the EoE act. I assume that you didn’t verify that the car you drove was in compliance with air quality standards. There are a vast array of federal crimes that could be going on right in front of you that without you PURSUING AN INVESTIGATION would never come to your attention. And pursuing such investigations is not your job. You have more than enough to do without that.
Jamica says
@av supporter sorry but not only Mexicans and brown people are illegal. You must not see any other color but brown b**** and u call yourself non racist .? Shut up u are lost in this world of brown lol
AV supporter says
Spoken like a true beaner
Tim Scott says
There is nothing about this comment that shows you are a supporter of the AV…or anything else good. No doubt you are a Trumpanzee though, so you support something.
Lois says
… welcome to Unidos Mexifornia, with police and sheriff cowed on bended-knee, subservient to illegal Mexicans enjoying preferential treatment, in the sanctity of sanctuary city status –
SMHX2 says
No need to change the name to Mexifornia. California is already a Spanish name, same as Colorado, Tejas, Nevada, Arizona, and Nuevo Mexico (New Mexico). The only states without the Spanish name that belonged to Mexico are Wyoming and Utah, amazing huh??