Police say ICE tactics are eroding public trust in local law enforcement [View all]

Source: NPR

March 30, 2025 5:00 AM ET


In Santa Fe County, N.M., last month, local police leaders stood before a packed auditorium and showed photos of their uniforms so residents would know what they look like — and, more pointedly, what ICE does not. "Whatever happens around the country, whoever is president, you are our community. We are your officers," Santa Fe Police Chief Paul Joye said with the help of a Spanish interpreter. "It is a fundamental human right that you feel safe in your home regardless of where you're from."

Meetings like this have been playing out nationwide in recent weeks. Police departments are holding town halls, releasing videos and statements, and adding FAQ sections to their websites. They're trying to communicate the same message: They are not immigration officers and residents should not be afraid to call them.

It's not uncommon for many people living in the U.S. without legal status to be wary of police. But as the Trump administration's immigration enforcement efforts have intensified, local police leaders say the fear many immigrants experience has also ramped up, and it's making their jobs harder.

"The one issue, honestly, that's keeping police chiefs up at night is dealing with immigration," says Chuck Wexler, executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum. "Dealing with their communities, dealing with federal law enforcement, they really find themselves caught in the middle and trying to navigate that ground as best they can."

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2025/03/30/nx-s1-5304236/police-say-ice-tactics-are-eroding-public-trust-in-local-law-enforcement