Despite California’s sanctuary state law preventing local police from assisting in immigration enforcement, immigrants detained by federal agents are being held at the Glendale City Jail.
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According to the Los Angeles Times, Glendale officials say they have a long-standing contract with Immigrations and Custom Enforcement that allows them to house non-criminal immigration detainees at the jail. They insist the deal is legal and doesn’t break California’s sanctuary law.
But critics accuse the city of exploiting a loophole in the law, with Andres Kwon from the ACLU calling it “deeply troublesome.”
“This contract very much goes against the principle and value of creating a bright line between local resources and federal immigration enforcement,” Kwon told the L.A. Times.
Some community members and activists want the contract ended.
At a Glendale City Council meeting on Tuesday, Councilmember Elen Asatryan insisted the city does “not get involved” in immigration operations and the cells are simply being used as a “holding place.”
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