Glendale betrays law enforcement by canceling its ICE contract, bowing to leftist pressure despite 18 years of providing federally-regulated detention services amid violent anti-immigration riots in Los Angeles.
Key Takeaways
- Glendale terminated its 18-year contract with ICE, citing “divisive public perception” despite previously providing regulated facilities with clean accommodations and legal counsel for detainees.
- The decision follows violent protests in Los Angeles against ICE raids, which resulted in property damage, dozens of arrests, and the deployment of 300 National Guard troops.
- Glendale claims the decision is “not politically driven” despite its timing coinciding with anti-Trump protests and California’s sanctuary state policy (SB 54).
- The city’s abandonment of federal immigration enforcement cooperation weakens border security efforts while emboldening illegal immigration advocates.
- Civil liberties groups like the ACLU, who opposed the contract, celebrated the decision as a blow to President Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.
Glendale Caves to Leftist Pressure Amid LA Immigration Riots
Glendale, California has abruptly canceled its longstanding contract with the Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), ending nearly two decades of cooperation in holding immigration detainees. The decision comes as violent protests against ICE enforcement actions have erupted across Los Angeles, resulting in widespread property damage, burned vehicles, and dozens of arrests. This surrender to mob pressure marks a significant blow to federal immigration enforcement in one of America’s largest metropolitan areas.
Despite claiming the decision wasn’t politically motivated, Glendale officials announced the contract termination just as anti-immigration enforcement riots intensified in neighboring Los Angeles. The city had previously maintained a detention facility that provided clean accommodations, medical care, family visitation rights, and legal counsel access for ICE detainees since 2007. Now, that crucial infrastructure for immigration enforcement has been eliminated under the guise of community relations.
🚨NEW: The City of Glendale, CA announces amid the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles that it will no longer work with ICE to house immigration detainees.
“This local decision reflects our core values: public safety, transparency and community trust.” pic.twitter.com/bmP6MngJD2
— Off The Press (@OffThePress1) June 9, 2025
Violence and Destruction Spread Across California
The decision to terminate the ICE contract follows days of escalating violence and destruction in Los Angeles, where leftist protesters have attempted to physically block deportation operations. The chaos has spread to San Francisco, resulting in injuries to police officers and approximately 60 arrests as rioters engaged in property destruction and violence against law enforcement. The level of unrest was so severe that President Trump authorized the deployment of 300 National Guard troops to protect federal properties in Los Angeles.
“While many left the scene, several individuals remained and continued engaging in illegal activity. Two officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries and one was transported to a local hospital for further medical assistance,” stated San Francisco Police Department.
Evidence of the weekend’s violence remained visible Monday morning throughout Los Angeles, with businesses displaying broken glass, looted shelves, and graffiti. Rioters set several Waymo autonomous vehicles ablaze in downtown Los Angeles, and demonstrators blocked portions of the 101 Freeway by walking onto the roadway. Despite this lawlessness, Glendale officials chose this moment to abandon their cooperation with federal immigration authorities, effectively rewarding the violent demonstrators.
California’s Sanctuary Policies Undermine National Security
Glendale’s decision aligns with California’s broader sanctuary state policy, formalized under SB 54, which prohibits local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. This policy directly contradicts President Trump’s efforts to enforce immigration laws and secure the nation’s borders. The city’s statement emphasized their compliance with this state law, effectively prioritizing protection for illegal immigrants over cooperation with federal authorities attempting to enforce the nation’s immigration laws.
“The Glendale Police Department does not enforce immigration laws and remains fully compliant with SB 54,” stated Glendale Police Department.
Civil liberties groups, predictably, celebrated Glendale’s capitulation. ACLU representative Andres Kwon revealed the true political nature of opposition to the contract, stating: “Ultimately and effectively, this Glendale contract with ICE is helping the Trump administration carry out its mass deportation agenda that is racist and has abused countless people’s constitutional, civil and human rights.” This statement exposes the transparent political motivations behind pressuring Glendale to terminate its ICE cooperation, despite city officials’ claims that politics played no role in their decision.
A Disturbing Pattern of Surrendering to Lawlessness
Since January, 82 ICE detainees had been held in Glendale’s jail for short periods without incident. Now, these detainees will need to be transported to other facilities, likely further from legal representation and family members. The decision represents another example of how Democrat-controlled jurisdictions are systematically dismantling immigration enforcement infrastructure under the guise of community relations while actually emboldening those who violate our nation’s immigration laws.
“Despite the transparency and safeguards the city has upheld, the city recognizes that public perception of the ICE contract — no matter how limited or carefully managed, no matter the good — has become divisive,” stated Glendale city statement.
President Trump has responded decisively to the escalating chaos, authorizing National Guard deployment and instructing them to “take all such action necessary to liberate Los Angeles” from the violent protesters. While the President works to restore law and order, local officials like those in Glendale are undermining these efforts by severing ties with federal immigration authorities. This pattern of capitulation sends a dangerous message that violence and intimidation are effective tactics against immigration enforcement.
