Glendale, AZ Ends Agreement to Detain Immigrants for ICE

Glendale, Arizona The Glendale City Council has voted to terminate its contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), effectively ending the city's role in detaining individuals awaiting immigration proceedings. For years, the city had housed ICE detainees at its municipal jail under a controversial agreement.

The decision follows sustained pressure from community activists and advocacy groups who argued that the agreement contributed to family separations and undermined local efforts to build trust with immigrant communities. Protesters frequently held demonstrations outside the jail and at city council meetings, calling for an end to the ICE contract.

"This decision reflects our commitment to upholding human rights and ensuring that our city is a welcoming place for all residents," said a spokesperson for the city council. "We believe that local resources should be focused on serving our community, not on federal immigration enforcement."

The end of the Glendale-ICE agreement mirrors similar actions taken by other cities across the country that are re-examining their partnerships with ICE. Opponents of these agreements argue that they incentivize aggressive immigration enforcement and can lead to the detention of individuals with minimal criminal records. Supporters, however, maintain that such agreements are necessary for national security and effective immigration management. The last detainees will be transferred out of the facility within the next few weeks.