Glendale Ends ICE Detention Agreement Amid LA Immigration Protests

Glendale, California officials have terminated a long-standing detention agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The city announced the decision on June 9, 2025, following protests in Los Angeles over immigration enforcement actions. Officials stated the contract termination was necessary to prevent local residents and businesses from experiencing consequences of civil unrest related to immigration enforcement controversies.

For 18 years, Glendale had maintained a facility that provided detention services for federal immigration authorities. The city described the facility as offering regulated accommodations with medical care, family visitation options, and legal counsel access for detainees. In their statement, Glendale officials emphasized that while opinions on immigration detention vary, their decision stemmed from concerns about maintaining public safety, local accountability, and community trust rather than political motivations.

The announcement came amid broader tensions over immigration enforcement in the region. Los Angeles experienced significant protests regarding ICE operations in Hispanic neighborhoods, with related demonstrations spreading to San Francisco. San Francisco police reported that some protesters engaged in property damage and assaults, resulting in approximately 60 arrests and three officer injuries when an initially peaceful demonstration escalated to include vandalism and other illegal activities.

Glendale officials noted potential consequences of their decision, acknowledging that detainees might now face housing in more remote facilities with reduced family access and legal representation. The city clarified that it has not engaged in immigration enforcement activities and emphasized its compliance with California state law, which prohibits local law enforcement from using resources for immigration enforcement purposes. According to ICE's website, state, county or municipal agencies in 40 states currently maintain active agreements under the federal 287(g) Program, which allows local authorities to enforce certain aspects of immigration law.

Neither DHS nor ICE provided immediate comment on Glendale's contract termination. The voluntary partnerships between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement typically involve delegation of limited immigration enforcement authority in exchange for training and federal funding. These arrangements have become increasingly contentious in many communities across the United States as debates over immigration policy continue.