Union del Barrio accuses LAPD of collaborating with federal agencies

On November 8, 2024, the Los Angeles City Council confirmed Jim McDonnell as the new  Chief of the LAPD. Councilmembers Eunises Hernandez and Hugo Soto-Martinez, were the dissenting votes, voicing concerns about his cooperation with ICE when he was the L.A. County Sheriff. 

A few days later, on November 19, the City of Los Angeles passed an ordinance declaring itself as  a Sanctuary City in response to President Donald Trump's support for mass deportations. According to the ordinance, Los Angeles can't utilize any of its resources, including property or personnel, for any immigration enforcement.

That was until last Friday. 

Several videos on social media showed LAPD officers aiding Border Patrol agents during an investigation in South Central. 

McDonnell said he was aware of the immigration enforcement activity. He confirmed that LAPD officers from the Newton Division were on the scene “assisting with traffic control as Homeland Security was attempting to arrest a suspect wanted for human trafficking.” 

The chief continued by saying that LAPD does not participate in civil immigration enforcement. 

“This has been the department’s policy since 1979, and it remains unchanged today,” he said.

However, members of the Self-Defense Coalition and Union del Barrio, which advocate for immigrants' rights, said the officers’ actions and words were contradictory.

With a megaphone on scene

Ron Gochez, member of Union del Barrio, is one of the activists seen in several videos that went viral showing immigration officers in different areas of Los Angeles. Gochez said he got a call of immigration presence at 6:45 a.m. When he arrived at 41st Street and Avalon Blvd, he drove near front of the house, parked, and got out with his megaphone at around 7:40 a.m. 

“I could see kids; there were people inside who heard me,” said Gochez. “I don’t know if ICE was present, but [the agents’] vests said Border Patrol.”

Authorities later confirmed there was at least one woman and three children inside the house. 

Gochez said that as soon as he started giving instructions to people with his megaphone not to open the door, an LAPD patrol quickly appeared, and followed by the arrival of officers. 

“They were like 10, I don’t even know where they appeared from,” said Gochez. 

Officers started telling him and other activists to move several houses away from the targeted home until they couldn’t see anything.

“I know Chief McDonnell said it was traffic control, but I wasn’t in a car. We were walking, we were not even on the street, so the police chief is blatantly lying,” said Gochez. 

The activist said images clearly show LAPD protecting the Border Patrol operation. 

“They were keeping activists away from the operation. So absolutely, without any doubt, they were collaborating,” he said. 

Gochez said he verified his doubts when he asked one of the LAPD officers to let him pass to get his car, which was very close to the raided house. The officer opposed it. Then Gochez asked him to call his superior, and the officer said he couldn’t call him on the radio because, according to the officer, “they are federal” and have different radio frequencies. 

“I was like, wait, you're taking orders from federal agents, so that means you're collaborating,” recalled Gochez.

McDonnell collaborated with ICE in the past

After learning that LAPD was collaborating with ICE in Los Angeles, in Districts 1 and 9, Councilwoman Hernandez, who represents CD1, presented a motion requesting LAPD to report on the protocol and process used for all incidents which took place on February 28, 2025. 

"As the author of the Sanctuary City ordinance, let me be clear: City resources should never be used for federal immigration enforcement,” said Hernandez. “I have also requested that the City Attorney report back and clarify on how the Sanctuary City ordinance limits the involvement of City personnel and resources with all federal agencies that may be engaged in immigration enforcement.”

Hernandez said Los Angeles is a city of immigrants and they have to make sure its resources are never used to support immigration enforcement.

McDonnell served as L.A. County Sheriff from 2014 to 2018. During his time as a sheriff, he was known for handing undocumented jailed immigrants to ICE agents.