During a city council meeting on November 8, Jim McDonnell, the newly confirmed chief of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), made a bold and highly public statement that has ignited considerable debate across the country. McDonnell made it clear that the LAPD would not assist in mass deportations, an announcement that has sparked strong reactions, particularly from conservative voices on social media.
As McDonnell prepared to be sworn in as the 59th chief of the LAPD, he took a moment to address the public’s concerns, especially those expressed by the city’s immigrant communities. His remarks, delivered in the aftermath of a national election that has left many in the immigrant population feeling a deep sense of fear and uncertainty, were meant to reassure Angelenos. He acknowledged the distress felt by many, particularly in the wake of heightened political rhetoric around immigration.
"I have met with members of the community and heard that fear," McDonnell said. "We also heard some of that just now at public comment." He didn’t mince words when he said, "I want to be unequivocally clear here in my opening comments: LAPD will protect our immigrant community. LAPD officers will not take action to determine a person’s immigration status, and will not arrest someone for their status, and LAPD will not assist with mass deportations."
McDonnell’s words were not just a statement of policy; they were a declaration of the LAPD’s commitment to upholding the rights of all Los Angeles residents, regardless of their immigration status. The city of Los Angeles, he emphasized, is a "city of immigrants" — a place where people from all walks of life, from every corner of the globe, have contributed to the city’s unique vibrancy. His comments, while intended to provide reassurance, also drew a sharp line in the sand, setting a clear boundary between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities.
"I know immigrants are being disparaged right now," McDonnell acknowledged, adding, "But I want the people of Los Angeles to know my viewpoint. Our nation was built by immigrants, and L.A. is such an extraordinary city because of people here from literally all over the world." This message, highlighting the integral role of immigrants in shaping the identity and success of the city, quickly spread across social media, sparking a wave of reactions from different sides of the political spectrum.
While McDonnell’s remarks were intended to reassure and unify, they quickly attracted criticism from conservative figures and commentators. A video clip of the hearing was posted on the platform X (formerly Twitter) by the popular conservative account LibsofTikTok, prompting a flurry of comments from users who voiced their disagreement with the LAPD chief’s stance. One post read, "Who wants to tell him that they’re getting deported whether he likes it or not," while another by conservative influencer Harrison Krank demanded, "Time to send in the Feds."
Political commentator Gunther Eagleman took a more direct approach, posting, "Get out of California while you still can!" These responses reflected a growing frustration among some conservatives, who believe that local law enforcement should be more cooperative with federal immigration enforcement. They argue that jurisdictions like Los Angeles, which resist collaboration with agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), are undermining national security and the rule of law.
McDonnell’s stance also raised questions about his past actions. Before being appointed as LAPD chief, McDonnell served as the Los Angeles County Sheriff during President Donald Trump’s first term. In that role, McDonnell did work with federal immigration agents to deport individuals convicted of crimes who were in the country illegally. However, in his new role as LAPD chief, McDonnell made it clear that he would not participate in such efforts, citing both his department’s policies and state law, including Special Order 40, which restricts LAPD officers from using their resources for immigration enforcement.
His comments came after a pointed question from Los Angeles City Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez, who asked McDonnell about the protections in place for undocumented residents in light of "the seismic shift in the national landscape." McDonnell responded by reaffirming the LAPD’s commitment to equality, stating, "We don’t stop somebody, we don’t arrest somebody, we don’t deal with people based on their immigration status, everybody gets to be treated equally across the city, and so we will continue with that as part of who we are."
He continued, emphasizing the importance of community trust and cooperation: "The way we’re successful as a police organization is if, when a crime occurs, people are willing to come forward as a witness, as a victim, and be able to be part of the criminal justice process to hold people accountable for their crimes." He also highlighted the legal framework that supports this approach, referencing the Trust Act and the California Values Act, both of which limit local law enforcement’s involvement in federal immigration enforcement.
The Trust Act, signed into law in 2014 by then-Governor Jerry Brown, limits the amount of time and the circumstances under which local jails can honor ICE detainer requests for individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. A report by the Cato Institute in 2018 found that, after the Trust Act was implemented, deportations in Los Angeles decreased by 39%, significantly more than the 9% national drop in deportations.
McDonnell was clear that these positions on immigration enforcement are not just a matter of policy, but a core part of the LAPD’s mission. He stressed that he would not be swayed by political rhetoric or external pressure, saying, "I will be very clear about these immigration positions to whoever I talk to, regardless of what we hear as part of the rhetoric of political discourse."
The backlash to McDonnell’s stance reflects the ongoing national debate about immigration policy, the role of local law enforcement, and the relationship between state and federal authorities. Supporters of McDonnell’s position argue that it is critical for local police departments to focus on crime prevention and community trust, rather than becoming entangled in federal immigration enforcement. They contend that immigrant communities must feel safe coming forward to report crimes and cooperate with police, and that this is only possible if they trust that local law enforcement will not act as an arm of federal immigration agencies.
On the other hand, critics argue that local law enforcement’s refusal to assist in deportations enables criminal illegal aliens to remain in the country, potentially jeopardizing public safety. Tom Homan, who served as acting ICE director under President Trump, expressed this view in an interview with Fox News Digital, saying, "If they’re not willing to help, then get the hell out of the way because ICE is going to do their job." Homan, who was recently named "border czar" under Trump, pledged that ICE would continue to pursue deportations, particularly of the estimated 425,000 illegal immigrants with criminal convictions currently living in the U.S.
"We’re going to go get them," Homan declared. "Either you help us or get the hell out of the way, because ICE is going to do their job." His comments reflect the tense and often adversarial relationship between federal immigration enforcement and sanctuary cities like Los Angeles, where local authorities have taken a stand against participating in federal deportation efforts.
As the debate continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how McDonnell’s position will affect his relationship with both federal immigration agencies and the people he is sworn to serve in Los Angeles. What is clear, however, is that his comments have brought the issue of immigration enforcement to the forefront of local and national discussions, and his stance could shape the future of policing in a city with one of the largest immigrant populations in the country.
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