At the beginning of 2026, several enforcement operations carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Customs and Borer Protection (CBP) in Minnesota sparked a national conversation about immigration enforcement. Those operations resulted in backlash as Americans watched ICE and CBP use escalatory tactics and aggressive actions to detain immigrants. Tensions further increased following the deaths of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti at the hands of ICE agents. Effective local law enforcement requires community trust and communication with all members of the community. Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF) members across different states, including Washington, Utah, Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Texas, spoke to their communities to clarify their enforcement role and rebuild trust.
Below are examples from around the country:
Chief Shon Barnes in Seattle (WA) responded to a 911 call, which involved ICE apprehending three men in the city, emphasizing a clear boundary that local police have no authority over federal agents. Chief Barnes explicitly stressed that there are no circumstances in which police officers should “interfere in federal immigration enforcement actions.” In a press statement about the incident, Chief Barnes reiterated that “the Seattle Police Department is here to keep people safe, regardless of anyone’s immigration status.” It was important that Chief Barnes made these statements to his community because clarity and trust are essential to public safety.
Meanwhile outrage was building in Minneapolis over the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent; former Salt Lake City Chief Chris Burbank publicly questioned the amount of force that ICE agents use in everyday communities. Chief Burbank does not believe the agent was in danger when he decided to fire his weapon. Many local law enforcement agents have raised whether ICE complies with the standard policing practice. Withing the first weeks of the year, the debate shifted from immigration policy to policing practices.
Lack of communication between federal agents and local law enforcement quickly emerged as an issue across multiple jurisdictions. Sheriff Garry McFadden of Mecklenburg County (NC) and Sheriff Kevin Joyce of Cumberland County (ME), both raised concerns about the lack of coordination with the federal authorities and the following of proper procedures. Similarly, in St. Paul (MN) Police Chief Axel Henry voiced his concern regarding ICE agents drawing their guns on off-duty officers. He feared the erosion of trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Such statements reflect a recurring theme: what began as a conversation about authority, quickly transformed into a conversation about community safety, trust, and professionalism with many critiques of recent crackdowns. Across the country, reactions to ICE and CBP enforcement have fallen into broader categories: clarifying legal boundaries, concerns about coordination and safety, and open criticism of certain tactics.
Washtenaw County (MI) Sheriff Alyshia Dyer participated in an ICE roundtable with the state attorney general launching an online portal to allow residents to report any federal immigration enforcement activities. Sheriff Dyer herself hosted a town hall to educate the community on different types of warrants, connect with immigrant rights organizations, and ensure that residents know their rights. There was direct engagement with her community, displaying her initiative and transparency towards the immigrant community.
Simultaneously, Sheriff Clarence Birkhead of Durham County (NC) described actions that are inconsistent with accepted policing tactics as terrorizing, reinforcing the broader theme of professional debate and respect for civil liberties within law enforcement. “What we don’t need to continue to do is terrorize American citizens, terrorize neighborhoods across this great country and put people in fear of being detained or scooped up and shipped off somewhere simply because they look a certain way. That’s unacceptable,” said Sheriff Birkhead.
In Texas, Sheriff Javier Salazar attempted to find a balance in Bexar County as a new state law requires large counties to have a formal partnership with ICE. Sheriff Salazar emphasized that the decision was designed to minimize disruption to everyday policing and to avoid turning deputies into immigration agents. He stressed that “the vast majority of our community will not see any difference in how sheriffs [work],” since his office will not be operating as federal immigration officers. Sheriff Salazar highlighted ongoing concerns affecting public trust. His response reflects a broader national pattern in which law enforcement officials are working to ensure that enforcement practices do not undermine community safety or discourage residents from reporting crime.
As 2026 continues, it is imperative that federal immigration enforcement reevaluate all tactics and actions that are harming public safety and community trust across the nation. Increasingly, the conversation is being led by police chiefs and sheriffs who strive to make all people in their communities feel safe and welcome.
The LEITF would like to thank Monserrat Patino Real, Spring Intern, for this blog post.