REDLANDS, Calif. — Amid growing protests in response to recent immigration raids and deportations, the Redlands Police Department (RPD) has assured the community that it will not participate in federal immigration enforcement efforts.
Why it matters: Protests have erupted across Southern California, with some taking place in San Bernardino County, following reports of increased Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activity. In San Bernardino, demonstrators clashed with law enforcement, prompting officers to deploy BearCats and tear gas to disperse crowds after rocks and bottles were allegedly thrown at them.
Details: The protests come in the wake of policy shifts that have heightened fears in immigrant communities around the nation. Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed multiple executive orders targeting immigration, such as giving the military a greater presence at the U.S.-Mexico border. His administration also revoked a policy that restricted ICE arrests at sensitive locations such as school and places of worship.
According to the National Immigration Law Center, a nonprofit advocacy organization, ICE agents cannot enter private areas, such as a home or an employee-only area like a breakroom, without permission or a judicial warrant. Public areas where ICE can enter include lobbies, dining areas in restaurants, parking lots or waiting areas. Regardless of being in a public or private space, anyone approached by ICE agents has the right to remain silent.
In light of these developments, RPD released a statement clarifying its role in public safety, stating that it does not participate in immigration enforcement and remains focused on building community trust “regardless of national origin or immigration status."
While local police comply with state and federal laws and may assist in cases involving serious criminal offenses, such as terrorism, human trafficking and other violent crimes, their involvement is solely based on criminal activity and not immigration enforcement.
What they’re saying: “RPD does not enforce immigration laws and prohibits officers from inquiring about immigration status unless legally required in specific criminal matters,” the Redlands Police Department said in a statement on Jan. 31. “Our officers will not ask about immigration status, use DMV records for immigration enforcement, or detain individuals solely for civil immigration violations.”
Zoom out: California is home to more than 2 million undocumented immigrants, according to the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC). While it’s difficult to collect accurate data as undocumented individuals are not identified in any national or state surveys, it is estimated that nearly a quarter of the nation's undocumented immigrants reside in California.
Nationwide, 78% of undocumented immigrants are from Latin America. PPIC also notes that nearly one in ten California workers is an undocumented immigrant, with most working in agriculture, construction and manufacturing.
San Bernardino County has an estimated 127,000 undocumented immigrants according to 2019 data from a Migration Policy Institute analysis of the U.S. Census Bureau data.
Moving forward: As concerns over immigration enforcement persist, RPD is urging residents to review its policies online and reach out with any questions.
For more information on RPD policies, residents can visit cityofredlands.org/police or contact the department at (909) 335-4744.
Statement released by Redlands Police Department on social media.
