Emotions ran high on Tuesday as the Los Angeles Board of Supervisors voted to call quits on a policy known as 287(g). The policy placed ICE agents inside jails to determine if certain criminals were deportable.
Advocates have long argued that the policy unfairly led to the deportation of low-level offenders, separating families and eroding public trust in law enforcement.
Supporters of the policy, present at the meeting, said having ICE interact with local law enforcement kept communities safer.
“ICE out of L.A.” many shouted outside shortly after the Supervisors ruled against 287(g). But the activists’ victory came with mixed feelings as the Board also voted to support the Priority Enforcement Program (PEP).
That program seeks to replace the controversial Secure Communities Program by allowing jail officials to, a certain degree, still collaborate with ICE.
In the video above, VoiceWaves spoke to activists on both sides about what the changes meant for people in L.A. County.
