LOS ANGELES, CA — Today, Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez introduced a package of legislation demanding transparency, legal review, and structural reforms to the Los Angeles Police Department’s (LAPD) conduct and oversight in the wake of widespread federal immigration raids marked by reports of residents being detained without due process and denied access to legal counsel, as well as the subsequent protests that followed across Los Angeles.
“Being a Sanctuary City means protecting our communities, not turning on them,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “When our City institutions fail to keep that promise, leadership has a responsibility to step in, demand answers, and take action. These motions are about defending the Constitution, restoring public trust, and making sure that no one in our city is above accountability.”
Upholding Constitutional Rights of Angelenos
On June 6, federal immigration enforcement agencies—including ICE and HSI—conducted coordinated raids across Los Angeles, detaining at least 45 Angelenos, with over 300 taken into custody without due process across the region by the weekend’s end. During the raids, there were multiple reports of the LAPD providing support for these federal operations despite Los Angeles’ Sanctuary City status. Councilmember Hernandez, who co-authored the City’s Sanctuary City Ordinance, put forward a motion calling for answers from LAPD and the City Attorney on how these actions are reconciled with City law, demanding a report on all LAPD responses to other law enforcement agencies—including ICE—starting on June 6. Her motion seeks:
Details of each agency request
LAPD actions taken and tools deployed
Names of commanding officers on scene
An evaluation of how policy and ordinance changes can ensure constitutional protections, especially in the face of unconstitutional acts by the federal government
The motion further directs the City Attorney to assess whether LAPD is legally obligated to support federal agencies, and requests the Board of Police Commissioners to consider further limiting or prohibiting LAPD’s response to federal immigration enforcement activity beyond what is required in the City’s Sanctuary City law.
Demanding Accountability for Crowd Control Tactics
In the wake of the federal administration’s escalating tactics, thousands of Angelenos have exercised their First Amendment right by participating in largely peaceful protests. In response, LAPD has employed crowd control tactics, including utilizing less lethal munitions. There have been multiple reports of injuries sustained by the public and members of the media as a result, including a video showing an officer firing a projectile at an Australian reporter at close range. Councilmember Hernandez put forward a second motion calling out a repeated history of use of force in response to protests, including the use of 37mm and 40mm foam round launchers, tear gas, and flash bangs.
Her second motion calls for daily written memos from all LAPD crowd dispersal activity starting on June 6, including:
Deployment times
Crowd sizes
Officer counts
Weapons and tools used
Justifications for each crowd control tactic used
Documentation of review of Use of Force policy ahead of each crowd control deployment
Checking City Spending on Police Liabilities
In recognition of the significant financial and legal implications of LAPD’s involvement in both the federal raids and protest response, Councilmember Hernandez introduced a third motion focused on oversight of public spending and liability. The legislation directs LAPD, in coordination with the Chief Legislative Analyst (CLA), City Administrative Officer (CAO), and City Attorney, to report on:
A full accounting of LAPD overtime expenditures since June 6, 2025, including hours logged, total costs, and funding sources used
A breakdown of LAPD deployments related to protest response, curfew enforcement, and looting suppression, including personnel numbers, locations, and duration of activity
The number of legal claims filed against LAPD personnel stemming from actions during this period
Councilmember Hernandez’s motion further directs the CAO and City Attorney to determine who is financially responsible for liabilities resulting from actions taken by other law enforcement agencies operating in Los Angeles under mutual aid agreements.
All motions can be found here.