In recent months, Los Angeles has witnessed disturbing scenes of LAPD and LA County Sheriff's deputies forming protective barriers around ICE agents conducting immigration raids, while using force to disperse, arrest, and control peaceful protestors exercising their First Amendment rights. This is unacceptable and violates both California state law and the fundamental role of local law enforcement.

California is a sanctuary state. Under SB 54 (the California Values Act of 2017), local law enforcement agencies are prohibited from using resources to investigate, detain, or arrest individuals based solely on immigration status. The law was designed to build trust between immigrant communities and local police, ensuring that all Angelenos feel safe reporting crimes and seeking help without fear of deportation.

The role of local police is to protect ALL residents of Los Angeles - not to act as enforcers for federal immigration raids.

We call on LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell and LA County Sheriff Robert Luna to:

1. Cease all collaboration with ICE operations that target community members without judicial warrants signed by a judge
2. Protect the constitutional rights of protestors rather than suppressing peaceful assembly with force, barricades, and arrests
3. Publicly reaffirm commitment to California's sanctuary state laws and clarify that LAPD and Sheriff's Department will not use resources to assist ICE raids -- warrantless abductions of the residents of this city
4. Prioritize community trust and public safety over federal immigration enforcement - when immigrants fear local police, entire communities become less safe
5. Require ICE agents to present judicial warrants before any local law enforcement provides assistance or access
6. Reallocate budget resources to training, not ICE collaboration. LAPD receives $3.5 billion annually and LA Sheriff's Department receives $4.1 billion - more than enough to fund mandatory training on California sanctuary laws, constitutional protest rights, and de-escalation tactics. If departments can afford military-grade equipment, they can afford to train officers to protect communities rather than suppress them.

Our tax dollars fund local police to serve and protect Angelenos - not to act as a private security force for federal immigration raids. When law enforcement prioritizes protecting ICE agents over protecting the constitutional rights of protestors and community members, they betray their duty to all residents of Los Angeles.

Los Angeles is a diverse city built by immigrants. Our local law enforcement must reflect our values: safety, dignity, and justice for ALL Angelenos, regardless of immigration status.

Sign this petition to demand that LAPD and LA County Sheriff's Department uphold California sanctuary laws and protect our communities, not ICE agents.