An encounter involving federal immigration agents in San Diego drew scrutiny.
Elo-Rivera’s office received a city notification concerning an encounter involving federal immigration authorities.
A woman reportedly intervened during the encounter, but the man's identity and the circumstances remain unconfirmed.
The Woman’s Identity and Injuries Remain Unconfirmed
The woman’s identity and whether she was hurt remain unconfirmed.
The agents involved were wearing clothing marked ERO, for Enforcement and Removal Operations, a division of ICE.
A Running Fight Over Transparency
Elo-Rivera helped push for San Diego’s Due Process and Safety Ordinance, which, according to KPBS, took effect in May and requires the police chief to issue written reports to the City Council within three business days under specified circumstances involving officers and federal immigration enforcement.
That ordinance has become a flashpoint between Elo-Rivera and the department in recent weeks. Per Voice of San Diego, Elo-Rivera said his office had received only four of the required notifications since the ordinance passed, while SDPD spokesperson Ashley Bailey said separately that the department had provided all required notifications along with additional reports on incidents not covered by the ordinance. Wahl issued a memo on October 30 pledging to report incidents involving federal agents to the mayor and City Council going forward even when SDPD considers them outside the ordinance’s requirements, the KPBS report notes.
Other Recent SDPD-ICE Encounters
The 58th Street incident is not the only recent case drawing scrutiny to how often San Diego police end up at scenes involving federal immigration agents. KPBS reported that on July 23, roughly 15 SDPD officers responded after an HSI vehicle broke down near 2500 Fairmount Avenue, where members of the public had gathered to protest. Voice of San Diego also reported that Daylight San Diego documented SDPD sending 41 officers to an ICE call at the 47th Street trolley station, where officers handed over an individual they had arrested to immigration officials.
The man's identity and the circumstances of Friday’s incident remain unconfirmed. There is no independent confirmation from ICE about the encounter.
