Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force (LEITF)

Last week, @cf_birkhead from @DurhamSheriff testified in the Senate, saying focusing on local priorities isn’t "sanctuary" policy and warning that involving local police in federal immigration roles can harm trust and public safety. Watch the hearing here: judiciary.senate.gov/committee-acti…

Sheriff @JamesDavidHath1 of @SCCSheriff, Sheriff Clarence Birkhead of @DurhamSheriff, and Sheriff Sean Casey of @AlexVASheriff are stepping into leadership roles on the Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force. Read more: leitf.org/three-sheriffs…

Sheriff Birkhead urged lawmakers to support policies that empower local law enforcement to "build bridges, not barriers." He's co-chair of the @LEImmigrationTF, a nationwide coalition focused on reforms that enhance safety AND trust. cbs17.com/news/local-new…

🚨[UPDATE] Backgrounder: Amid nationwide staffing shortages, which jurisdictions in the U.S. can hire noncitizens as law enforcement officers? Read more here: leitf.org/2026/01/backgr…

🚨New Blog Post: Q&A with Police Chief Paul Joseph Earlier this year, @SanJosePD's Chief Joseph innovatively used #AI to cross language barriers in his community and promote public safety. 👇Read about his strategy to strengthen trust in San Jose: leitf.org/2025/12/blog-p…

🚨New Op-Ed: Protecting immigrant crime victims and witnesses makes us all safer LEITF Subject Matter Expert, Former Chief Michael Tupper (Marshalltown, IA) reflects on community safety amid heightened immigration enforcement. iowacapitaldispatch.com/2025/12/15/pro…

“My leadership is about listening to the community, partnering across the county, and aligning our policies with people’s needs,” said Sheriff Dyer.

“I’m pushing to build out alternative, unarmed crisis responders outside the Sheriff’s Office, in addition to the traditional policing we’ve always done and our co-response mental health teams,” said Sheriff Dyer.

‼️Blog Post: Q&A with Sheriff Alyshia Dyer in Washtenaw County (MI) in which she reflects on how she works to build trust with immigrant communities. @WSheriff leitf.org/2025/11/blog-p…

@Tucson_Police "Chief Chad Kasmar (LEITF Co-Chair) is among a group of local law enforcement leaders who say the Trump administration’s deportation efforts are undermining community safety by targeting immigrants applying for the U-visa." Read more: kjzz.org/politics/2025-…

“U visas encourage crime victims and witnesses to come forward, regardless of their immigration status,” said co-chair Chief Ruben Quesada of Swampscott, Massachusetts.

🚨PRESS RELEASE: Deportations of U Visa Petitioners Undermine Law Enforcement Work @ChiefRubenQ_SPD @Tucson_Police Read here: leitf.org/2025/11/press-…

“For us in the field, U visas play a key role in fostering trust within immigrant communities, since they represent an opportunity to protect victims of crime who lack legal status,” said LEITF co-chair Chief Chad Kasmar of Tucson, Arizona.

Commander Lara from Nashville PD weighed in on local law enforcement’s role in community safety: “It is not our job to pick a side; I don’t care if you are for immigration or against immigration. Our job is to protect people.”

🚨 Blog Post: This Fall in Nashville Law Enforcement Leaders Reaffirmed Community Trust leitf.org/2025/11/blog-p…

“…so it is not that we do not cooperate, it is just that, and I speak for myself, I am not going to do the job of customs and border patrol, I am not going to do the #ICE raids and participate in that and terrorize my community,” said Sheriff Birkhead of Durham County, NC.

“The immigrant population within Pima County is a huge part of who we are as a community… The Pima County Sheriff’s Department understands the importance of building trust with those we serve,” says Sheriff Chris Nanos @PimaSheriff

Sheriff Nanos brings unique experience and perspectives to leading a diverse border community to the LEITF. In this interview, Sheriff Nanos reflects on how his career has shaped his leadership. Read more here: leitf.org/2025/09/blog-q…

🚨New blog post: LEITF Co-Chair and Chief of Police Ramon Batista (Santa Monica, CA), shares his hopes on how we can shape our nations future through human immigration and secure borders. @RBatista10 Read the full blog👇 leitf.org/2025/08/blog-p…

Bexar County (TX) Sheriff Javier Salazer noted, “recent protests demonstrated how our community can work together to ensure they express their views with civility.”

In San Jose, California, Chief Paul Joseph sought to personally speak with residents. “I know there is a lot of concern in the community… We’re not #immigration. We don’t get involved in any immigration enforcement,” said Chief Joseph.

🚨New Blog Post: LEITF Members Respond to Nationwide Protests - Law Enforcement Immigration Task Force leitf.org/2025/07/blog-p…