In a unanimous decision on Tuesday, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors set into motion a countywide “ICE-Free Zones” initiative, which will prohibit Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from using county property as a launchpad for civil immigration enforcement operations, as reported by CBS News; the ordinance, to be revisited in 30 days for reconsideration, is currently being fashioned by County Counsel following the instructions of the Board.
Supervisors Lindsey P. Horvath and Chair Hilda L. Solis spearheaded the motion, their resolve stiffened by the recent slayings of Renee Nicole Good and Keith Porter Jr., Horvath's office stated, "Los Angeles County will not allow our public property to be used by ICE to cause harm and to frighten people away from receiving services and support," emphasizing a growing national concern over the deadly implications of civil immigration enforcement and its attendant spread of fear, particularly in public spaces designated for community use and benefit.
The action came as a response to increasingly invasive federal immigration activities, such as an ICE raid at Deane Dana Friendship Park and Nature Center in San Pedro in October last year, where agents made multiple arrests and allegedly threatened county staff, which CBS News reported as a disruptive presence that deterred locals from using park facilities and impacted the daily tasks of county workers, shocking this fact, in stark contrast to the serene enviornment we expect in such public spaces.
This effort by the Board includes plans for signage declaring the prohibition of unauthorized civil law enforcement on county properties and a permit requirement for civil law enforcement actions, unless jeopardized by urgent circumstances or supported by a judicial warrant—a measure outlined in the official motion document that details a multifaceted approach to upholding the sanctity of Los Angeles County spaces, these new regulations aiming to ensure public comfort and prevent local grounds from serving as staging areas for immigration enforcement, which may unlawfully detain citizens or deny due process to residents of varying immigration statuses.
However, United States Attorney Bill Essayli has voiced disapproval, arguing that such ordinances cannot legally block federal agencies from executing their operations in public areas. "Stop misleading the public. Local jurisdictions cannot target and exclude federal agents from public spaces ... We will use any public spaces necessary to enforce federal law," Essayli posted on social media, questioning the legal counsel provided to the county and hinting at potential challenges ahead for the Board's newly adopted stance against ICE's use of county-owned locations.
