Cops Catch Heat As Community Trust Melts Over Immigration Tactics

In Santa Fe County, New Mexico, Police Chief Paul Joye addressed a full auditorium last month with a clear message for immigrant residents: “It is a fundamental human right that you feel safe in your home regardless of where you're from.” Speaking with a Spanish interpreter, he emphasized that local police are not immigration officers. “Whatever happens around the country, whoever is president, you are our community. We are your officers,” Joye added.

Across the country, local departments have ramped up efforts to reassure immigrant communities amid growing fear surrounding federal immigration tactics. Town halls, public statements, and FAQs on department websites are part of a larger attempt to restore trust. Chuck Wexler of the Police Executive Research Forum noted, “The one issue… that’s keeping police chiefs up at night is dealing with immigration.”

At the Santa Fe meeting, Joye, dressed in plainclothes to avoid alarming attendees, acknowledged that his department may cooperate with federal immigration officials in cases involving violent crimes, identity theft, or gang activity. But he clarified, “We don’t participate in the sweeps. We aren’t working to aid them, but we aren’t going to actively work against them either.”

Confusion over immigration enforcement and local police roles is growing. There are roughly 18,000 police agencies in the U.S., each with varying policies, and the Trump administration’s aggressive stance has amplified fear. In Tennessee, a police event for Hispanic residents was canceled after rumors circulated that it was an ICE trap.

Some departments have chosen to push back. Boston Police Commissioner Michael Cox said his department doesn’t enforce immigration laws, prompting Trump’s border czar to threaten to “bring hell” to the city. Over 300 people were arrested in Massachusetts days later.

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara expressed concern that this climate is making communities less safe. “If people are not willing to call us… all of that leads to a situation that makes the potential for everyone… worse,” he said.

Albuquerque’s Police Chief Harold Medina summed it up: “Every day we deposit in the bank of trust. If you're only trying to build that relationship after something happens, it’s too late.”

Link: NPR