Pasadena Police Chief Calms Local Deportation Raid Fears

Amid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids in Los Angeles and fears of similar incidents in Pasadena, Police Chief Phillip Sanchez said the re-signing of an agreement between the Pasadena Police Department and Homeland Security with regard to local immigration enforcement will not change Pasadena’s current policy of declining to take immigration enforcement actions on behalf of ICE.

The ICE-Pasadena Police Department agreement was obtained on February 9 through a Public Records Act request by attorneys for Pasadena resident Pablo Alvarado, Executive Director of the National Day Laborers Organizing Network, and appeared to indicate local police might cooperate more closely with immigration authorities than previously.

However Sanchez explained that the renewed agreement “does not reflect any new level of coordination between our agencies.”

Sanchez continued, “It is important to understand this because in the current climate, many residents are fearful of potentially new efforts to identify and deport the undocumented.”

“The agreement between the City of Pasadena Police Department and the Federal Department of Homeland Security/Immigration and Customs Enforcement is similar to agreements that dozens of other law enforcement agencies in Southern California, and probably across the nation, have in place” Sanchez said. “The latest agreement with Pasadena, which was executed in November 2016, extends an existing relationship that has gone back many years.”

Details of the renewed agreement prompted a sharp reaction from Alvarado and his attorney, Dale Gronemeier .

Alvarado described the agreement as a “rent-a-cop deal that would give [President] Trump a dangerous path, forcing Pasadena to provide its police to carry out mass deportations.”

In a press release, Gronemeier said the ICE-Pasadena Police contract “appears to be a formal ICE contract that it uses nationally to get local police department cooperation with its efforts. Such contracts would provide [President] Trump a means to undermine sanctuary cities through their police departments. Municipalities across the nation need to examine whether their police have such contracts and promptly terminate them if they do.”

Sanchez indicated, however, that the agreement is not expected to have an impact on Departmental policies.

“It remains the longstanding policy of the Pasadena Police Department to not inquire as to a person’s residency status when interacting with law enforcement,” Sanchez said. “To my knowledge, the Pasadena Police Department has never worked with ICE for the express purpose of enforcing federal immigration laws. Moreover, in 2016 the Pasadena Police Department had zero contacts with ICE.”

“That being said,” Sanchez also noted that “on occasion in an effort to remove violent predators, sex offenders, or other dangerous persons from our community, federal resources can be extremely valuable.”

Much of the agreement between the Pasadena Police Department and agencies such as Homeland Security or ICE, stem from security measures put in place following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City.

“The agreement with Homeland Security/ICE is intended to create a pathway for reimbursement to the City for any operational expenses on the part of [the Pasadena Police Department] from the Treasury Forfeiture Fund,” Sanchez explained. “Under the agreement the Pasadena Police Department can be reimbursed for funds spent on narcotics investigations, cases involving violent offenders, or other dangerous suspects.”

Sanchez continued, “The Pasadena Police Department frequently works with Homeland Security, of which ICE is a department, for security at the Rose Parade, Rose Bowl Game, and Post Parade. Homeland Security provides (often at no cost) personnel, equipment, and technology to safeguard these important events.

“If ICE Agents intend to conduct an operation in our community they are expected to notify the Pasadena Police Department in advance. If a police officer is available, he/she may accompany the agents to a location; however, [Pasadena police] are not part of the enforcement effort. The officer’s presence at the location creates a real time communication link with the Pasadena Police Department’s Communication Center, since ICE agents do not have [Pasadena police] radio frequencies,” said Sanchez.

While not officially a “Sanctuary City,” Pasadena does have a policy in place regarding undocumented immigrants in the City.

As City Manager Steve Mermell said at a December 6 City Council meeting, “The City of Pasadena strongly believes that immigrants strengthen the community economically and culturally, and welcomes their contributions to society.”

“With regard to federal legislation aimed at reforming federal immigration laws,” Mermell continued, “the City would urge Congress and the President to reaffirm that addressing unlawful immigration in a compassionate manner is the primary responsibility of the federal government, and that sufficient resources must be committed on the federal level for this purpose.”

The City Council resolution adopted in October 2013 continues to say that “the City of Pasadena hereby supports a humane and comprehensive immigration reform proposal with the following principles: provides an attainable and affordable pathway to full citizenship for the nearly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States; family unity as a cornerstone of our immigration system; provides due process and labor protections; allows access to key essential services such as health care; and local governments should not be mandated to enforce federal immigration laws, particularly when resources necessary to enforce local laws are already stretched.”

Sanchez sought to reassure local residents about any perceived changes in local law enforcement policies, telling Pasadena Now, “I know the change in administration in Washington has many people concerned. I understand this, but I think it’s important for your readers to understand that the Pasadena Police Department will continue its practices which are well established and have been in place for many years.”