San Diego councilmember says police not notifying public about ICE raids as required

San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera has accused the San Diego Police Department’s leadership of failing to comply with a city law that requires the department to notify the public when officers respond to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) arrests, according to Voice of San Diego.

The law, known as the Due Process and Safety Ordinance, took effect in May and was inspired by chaotic scenes during 2025 when ICE agents arrested residents suspected of being undocumented. The ordinance requires the police to issue incident reports within three business days after responding to federal law enforcement activity, especially when the alleged crime involves protected personal characteristics such as immigration status.

The reports must include details such as the names of agencies present, whether a judicial warrant was shown, and identifying information of the personnel involved, including badge numbers and agency affiliation. The law also mandates that councilmembers be notified about such incidents.

Despite these requirements, Elo-Rivera stated on social media that the police department has not been fulfilling these notification obligations. The issue gained attention after previous incidents where multiple officers were present at ICE raids, such as a large police response at the 47th Street trolley station and a raid at an Italian restaurant in South Park that led to protests and police dispersing crowds with flashbangs.

The ordinance was intended to clarify the role of local police in ICE operations, especially since laws prohibit San Diego police from collaborating with ICE. However, many residents remain uncertain about the police department’s involvement in these federal immigration enforcement actions.

Councilmember Elo-Rivera, who helped advocate for the ordinance, has publicly called out the police department for what he describes as a failure to uphold the city’s transparency requirements regarding ICE-related police activity.