When federal immigration operations in Santa Barbara draw bystanders or large crowds, local police officers may respond to the scene for crowd control or managing traffic.
To onlookers, this can look and feel like direct cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents.
That often causes concern or anger, such as after one incident last Wednesday, when city police officers responded to the Santa Barbara Eastside after an ICE agent pepper sprayed Santa Barbara woman Beth Goodman in the face.
Santa Barbara Police Department Chief Kelly Gordon told Noozhawk that ICE does not currently notify them of its activity within the city.
“We have not received any recent notifications of planned operations in our jurisdiction,” she said.
That included last Wednesday, the department said.
Protesters and observers had mobilized because ICE agents detained a man in the neighborhood. Community members were filming and shouting at agents to leave, according to videos captured that morning.
Police Sgt. Bryan Kerr put out a statement that day stating officers responded to the scene for a report of a fight. Officers’ focus at the scene was to coordinate medical care for the woman who was injured, take information, and manage traffic, he said.
Officers told protesters and bystanders to stay on sidewalks, according to protesters who witnessed the incident, and in at least one instance put themselves between the federal agents and people filming them.
Anger at the perceived cooperation led a group of Wednesday night ICE protesters to walk to the police headquarters and continue the rally there, calling for accountability.
“Even if they are choosing neutrality, neutrality only benefits oppressors,” 805UndocuFund volunteer Chelsea Lancaster shouted through a megaphone.
In response to questions about the Police Department’s role and responsibilities regarding ICE operations in the city, Gordon reiterated that the department does not participate in federal immigration operations.
“When SBPD receives a 9-1-1 call involving federal agents, our priority is to ensure public safety. Officers will respond to verify identities and maintain peace, but we do not have authority over federal operations,” Gordon said in an emailed response to questions.
“This presence is intended solely to prevent violence or tragedy, such as those seen recently in Minneapolis, not to aid federal enforcement,” she said.
Federal agents seen during local operations regularly wear face coverings and clothing without agency patches, names or other insignia. They have continued covering their faces even after California legislators passed a law banning federal law enforcement personnel from wearing masks.
Gordon said police officers are instructed to verify identities by requesting official identification issued by the federal agency, and “the officer must ensure the credentials are valid.”
She also said, “If an individual cannot provide proper identification or refuses to comply, officers will escalate the matter through the appropriate channels to confirm legitimacy.”
The department’s statement released after last Wednesday’s ICE detention and agent pepper spraying a protester said officers “attempted to de-escalate the situation and the ICE agents left the scene.”
Santa Barbara officers did take a report about the federal agent pepper spraying a woman in the face, Gordon confirmed.
Officers also took a report from a woman shoved by a federal agent. They only did so after she shared the video of the incident; at first, they kept telling her to file the report online, the woman told Noozhawk.
Noozhawk asked Gordon if the department would investigate these incidents as potential crimes.
“At this time, federal agents have indicated they will not cooperate with any local investigation into their actions,” Gordon said.
Federal enforcement agent misconduct complaints can be submitted to the California Attorney General’s Office, she said.
Santa Barbara Police Department misconduct complaints can be submitted online.
“If there was a shooting involving a federal agent in Santa Barbara, we would ask the California Department of Justice to investigate,” Gordon said.
