CONNECT with the CityImmigration and San Diego Police: What to Know
Overview
The San Diego Police Department is committed to building trust, keeping our communities safe, and complying with state laws. This page explains how the Department handles situations involving immigration, the laws and policies that guide our officers, and how SDPD communicates about these matters.
SDPD does not enforce federal immigration law.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for educational and informational purposes only. For legal assistance, please contact an attorney.
Legal Guidelines
California Senate Bill 54 prohibits SDPD officers from investigating, detaining or arresting people solely based on their immigration status.
SDPD officers do not ask about immigration status, do not participate in immigration enforcement task forces, and do not assist with immigration arrests.
SDPD Procedure 6.18 outlines SDPD officer requirements related to undocumented persons.
Calls for Emergency Assistance
SDPD officers have an obligation to provide emergency assistance to members of the public and all law enforcement agencies, including those conducting immigration enforcement operations.
SB 54 allows SDPD officers to respond when federal authorities call for emergency help, even if federal immigration agents are present. Our involvement is limited to addressing violations of California state law or threats to public safety. Our focus is ensuring a safe environment, not enforcing immigration law.
SDPD is oftentimes not aware of immigration enforcement operations happening in our city ahead of time, and officers may not have a complete picture of what has occurred when we receive a 9-1-1 call, either from a community member or a federal agent.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta issued an Information Bulletin in January 2025 for law enforcement agencies about SB 54, which contains the following guidance:
“Nothing in the Values Act prohibits a California law enforcement agency from asserting its own jurisdiction over criminal law enforcement matters… This includes circumstances in which an officer is responding to a call for service involving a violation of a state criminal law or during an immigration enforcement action where the safety of the public or a law enforcement officer, including an immigration enforcement officer, is in danger.”
Federal law says no one, including local police, can interfere with federal agents doing their job. Under the Supremacy Clause, federal laws generally supersede local or state laws.
SDPD Procedure 6.18 outlines SDPD officer requirements related to undocumented persons.
SDPD Policy 9.01 also requires officers to help any law enforcement officer, local, state, or federal, if they need immediate assistance.
When SDPD responds to incidents involving federal agents, a supervisor is sent to the scene to make sure our role stays within the confines of state law. Once our responsibility is complete, we leave.
Public Communication
SDPD takes pride in communicating transparently and efficiently regarding crime and safety issues in our city.
When SDPD receives a call for emergency assistance that is related to immigration enforcement, we will:
- Provide information, as available, to elected officials regarding the date and location of the incident, SDPD's purpose for involvement, and the timeline of our involvement (time of arrival, departure, etc).
- Provide information, as available, when requested by the media.
SDPD will not:
- Provide information on the federal investigation, including the nature of the case, subjects involved, or outcomes. We will only provide information about the Department’s involvement.
- There may be instances when SDPD operations are misidentified as immigration enforcement (warrant service, task force activity, SWAT operations, etc.). In these cases, officers are encouraged to clarify that the incident is an SDPD operation unrelated to immigration enforcement, if asked by the community or media.
Resources
- City of San Diego Know Your Rights and Community Resources
- California Office of the Attorney General Immigration Resources
- Locating a person:
- If an individual has been arrested for an immigration-related civil violation, they are typically held in an immigration detention facility. Family members can locate individuals in immigration custody through the following online resource: Immigration Custody Locator.
- If an individual has been arrested for a criminal offense — including criminal immigration violations — they are generally held under the custody of the U.S. Marshals Service or the Bureau of Prisons. These individuals can be located via the following link: Federal Inmate Locator.