In a significant move reflecting ongoing tensions over immigration enforcement, the city of Glendale announced on Sunday night that it has terminated its agreement with the federal government to house detainees taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The city’s decision, articulated through a statement on its official website, emphasized the importance of core values such as public safety, transparency, and community trust.
Officials confirmed that as of Monday morning, the city jail no longer holds any ICE detainees.
This decision comes after reports revealed Glendale’s continuation of a 2007 contract with ICE, in spite of the California Values Act (SB 54), which prohibits local and state agencies from engaging in federal immigration enforcement practices, including the utilization of municipal jails for housing ICE detainees. This legislation, which made California the first sanctuary state in the U.S., was signed into law by then-Governor Jerry Brown.
While other California municipalities promptly rescinded their agreements following the enactment of SB 54, Glendale remained an outlier. The previous police chief, Robert Castro, had opposed the law and recommended maintaining the contract to foster a good relationship with federal authorities.
As a result, Glendale was the only known jurisdiction still housing ICE detainees in defiance of state sanctuary laws, until now.
Glendale Mayor Ara Najarian noted that since the beginning of January, the city has housed 82 ICE detainees.
In response to Glendale’s recent decision, the Department of Homeland Security issued a statement describing the move as “deeply disturbing,” accusing city officials of siding with violent criminals.
“It is deeply disturbing that sanctuary politicians in Glendale, California, would terminate an agreement to hold ICE detainees and violent criminals — which the city has had with DHS for more than 15 years — just as violent rioters are looting and defacing Los Angeles and assaulting federal law enforcement,” the agency’s statement read.
According to DHS, Glendale’s politicians prioritize the rights of criminal illegal aliens, including gang members and perpetrators of serious crimes, over the safety of American citizens.
Despite the federal government’s harsh criticism, Glendale officials insisted that their agreement aligned with state law.
Nevertheless, the city acknowledged the growing public outcry regarding the ICE contract, stating that perception had become divisive within the community.
“The City recognizes that public perception of the ICE contract — no matter how limited or carefully managed, no matter the good — has become divisive,” the statement from the city explained.
Ending the contract will further complicate the situation for families wishing to visit ICE detainees, as these individuals would be transferred far from Glendale.
Mayor Najarian highlighted the challenges that would arise from this decision, noting that it was not an easy one and that opinions among council members were divided. He expressed concern that canceling the contract would not stop ICE operations but rather force detainees to endure more difficult conditions.
“The alternative to closing the Glendale facility and canceling the contract is either maintaining the detainees in that basement of the federal detention center or immediately shipping them out to Arizona or some other location,” he said.
He further elaborated that by the time families or attorneys learn of their loved ones’ new locations, the detainees might already be on a plane heading for deportation.
Concerns about detainee treatment were raised by immigration lawyer Sarah Houston during a City Council meeting last week, after a report that a client had gone without food for nine hours while being held in the Glendale facility.
She questioned the rationale behind maintaining the longstanding agreement, particularly in light of the state-level commitment to protect immigrant rights as outlined in SB 54.
In her remarks after Glendale’s announcement, Houston emphasized the importance of local communities uniting to safeguard immigrants, particularly in light of recent violent federal raids.
Andrés Kwon from the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California underscored Glendale’s diverse population, which is more than 50% immigrant, suggesting that the city should serve as a symbol of immigrants’ rights and protection.
He challenged Glendale’s commitment to ensure that detainees held for ICE were not subjected to unconstitutional detention practices amidst the alarming increase in aggressive federal enforcement actions.
The immigrant rights advocacy group, Amigos Unidos for Immigrant Justice, supported the city’s decision, calling it a “right step toward rebuilding trust” within the community.
They stated, “As we move forward, Glendale is our home, our community, and our responsibility. We believe deeply in protecting what makes Glendale strong: a commitment to fairness, compassion, and civic integrity.”
image source from：https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-06-09/glendale-ends-ice-contract
