Statement on Immigration Enforcement
This morning I was deeply frustrated to wake up to messages from neighbors reporting that the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement activity had once again come crashing into our community.
What is especially concerning is that these reports and images are coming from neighbors and residents rather than from clear communication by our local government. When something this serious is happening in our city, our community should not have to rely on informal reports and social media to understand what is taking place. City officials should be there to support us.
Over the past several months, the response from our city’s leadership to these federal enforcement actions has been tepid at best. Residents deserve to hear directly from their local government about what is happening in our community.
Transparency is not political. It is the minimum standard of responsible leadership.
At a minimum, the public should expect regular updates from the City Manager about any federal enforcement activity occurring in or around Encinitas. Residents should know what activity has taken place, whether local resources were involved, and what steps are being taken to ensure the rights and safety of everyone who lives here. These updates should not be buried at the end of a five-hour council meeting.
The chaotic and poorly coordinated approach to immigration enforcement coming from the Trump administration has real consequences for local communities and local law enforcement agencies. When masked, armed agents suddenly appear in our neighborhoods without clear communication, it creates confusion, fear, and uncertainty for residents and places local agencies in a difficult position.
This is exactly why local leadership matters.
We hear a great deal from our current council majority about the importance of “local control.” Local control means standing up for the well-being of our own community when federal actions create disruption here at home. If federal enforcement operations are being staged from facilities within our city, residents deserve to know what role local agencies are playing and what oversight our local leaders are exercising.
Residents should never have to wonder whether their local sheriff’s station is knowingly being used as a staging ground for federal immigration enforcement operations.
Law enforcement leaders across the country have repeatedly warned that when residents begin to fear that local police may be connected to immigration enforcement, people become less willing to report crimes, cooperate with investigations, or seek help when they need it.
As long as immigration raids are happening in our community, the Sheriff’s Department should be given a regular opportunity to address concerns and update the public on what they were, and more importantly were not, aware of. Our city needs to use every opportunity available to maintain and build trust in our Sheriff’s Department.
Our public safety depends on trust. When that trust erodes, our entire community becomes less safe.
We should also continue to evaluate what legal options exist to protect our residents and ensure that any federal enforcement activity occurring in our community fully complies with California law and constitutional protections. Cities across the country have successfully challenged federal overreach in the past, and our local government should not hesitate to explore every option available to protect our community.
In previous council meetings, it troubled me to hear Council Member San Antonio and Deputy Mayor O’Hara suggest that the potential loss of federal funding should outweigh the constitutional rights of our neighbors. That is not the standard we should be applying when we are talking about the rights and safety of people who live in our community.
Equally troubling was Mayor Ehlers reporting back from an initial meeting with the special agent in charge and using the words “refreshing” and “brave” to describe that meeting with a representative of the Trump administration.
Encinitas residents deserve leadership that will ask hard questions, demand transparency, and unequivocally stand up for the rights and safety of our community. Moments like this test whether our leaders are willing to speak up when our community is at risk. I believe our city’s leaders must meet that moment with calm, principled leadership that puts the well-being of our residents first.
Brad Lefkowits
Candidate for Encinitas City Council District 4