Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting (https://kycir.org/series/louisville-police-immigration-enforcement/)
Records and interviews show that Louisville police help federal immigration agents with enforcement when asked, a practice that runs counter to statements from city leaders and in contrast to the “compassionate city” image they project.
Louisville Metro Police dispatchers took ICE’s call for assistance, on average, nearly once a week from January to June, call records show. ICE agents asked LMPD to serve local warrants, make traffic stops and knock on the doors of non-violent offenders wanted for immigration offenses.
An ordinance barring Louisville police officers and employees from enforcing federal immigration laws cleared a first hurdle Wednesday and will soon be up for a vote by the Metro Council.
Louisville Metro police officers and city employees would be barred from enforcing federal civil immigration laws under a proposed city ordinance set to be introduced Thursday night.
KyCIR’s reporting on LMPD’s cooperation with federal immigration agents prompts new police guidelines.
Immigrant rights activists in Louisville are ramping up their push for “sanctuary city” policies in the wake of a report that Louisville Metro Police officers have repeatedly assisted federal immigration agents on service calls.
The announcement follows the publication of a KyCIR investigation into the Louisville Metro Police Department’s relationship with federal immigration agents.
Entering the country illegally is a civil offense that LMPD officers don’t enforce. But a KyCIR investigation found that LMPD helps ICE with its enforcement when asked, a practice that runs counter to statements from city leaders and in contrast to the “compassionate city” image they project.