This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Glendale City Council voted to support Glendale Chief of Police Robert Castro's statement where he vows not to support federal immigration policies, according to the LA Times. City Council voted 4-0 Tuesday, after Castro released the following statement:
"The Glendale Police Department does not have the authority nor the responsibility to incarcerate or detain individuals solely based on immigration status. Our fundamental duties are based on public safety — serving the community, while focusing efforts primarily on crime prevention and law enforcement. Our responsibility is to protect the lives of the community we are sworn to serve and honor the principles of democracy upon which this country was founded."
In a statement following the vote, City Council said the statement "reflects the core values of the Glendale community" as well as "current police policy which prohibits the detention of any individual for a civil violation of federal immigration laws." City Council hoped to curb fears among the immigrant community in Glendale, according to the LA Times. This statement doesn't mark a change in approach for the Glendale PD; rather, it reaffirms pre-existing policy in order to maintain transparency with its community.
City Council also acknowledged their contract with ICE, where the agency can rent out space in Glendale jails to hold immigration detainees. This type of contract is common, but the Glendale City Council claims the city makes little revenue off the contract and to cancel it would elicit unintended, negative consequences, according to the LA Times.
This announcement comes on the heels of Attorney General Jeff Sessions' statement reinforcing President Trump's threat to defund sanctuary cities.
