On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a major voice within U.S. law enforcement is calling for a moment of reflection.
Per KTLA, the National Latino Peace Officers Association (NLPOA), which represents thousands of Latino officers across the country, is pushing for a temporary halt and review of immigration enforcement efforts, warning that current approaches could weaken public trust and ultimately harm public safety.
The organization says MLK Day is a fitting moment to pause and consider whether current enforcement policies truly align with constitutional policing and strong community partnerships.
“At the core of public safety is trust,” NLPOA President Louis Molina said in a statement issued Monday, January 19. “And trust cannot survive without constitutional accountability.”
Molina explained that enforcement approaches that blur the lines between federal and local agencies — especially highly visible actions targeting non-criminal individuals — can seriously strain relationships between police and the communities they serve.
The group’s concerns come as large-scale immigration enforcement continues across major U.S. cities. Figures released by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement show tens of thousands of arrests in 2025 and early 2026.
Independent reviews of detention records suggest a sizable portion of those currently held by ICE have no criminal convictions, with only a small fraction tied to violent crimes.
While federal officials insist their priority remains serious offenders, NLPOA argues that both the data and on-the-ground experiences in many cities tell a more complex story.
Molina stressed that the association fully supports lawful enforcement against individuals who present genuine threats to public safety, regardless of immigration status.
However, he emphasized that “professional policing requires precision and proportionality,” not sweeping actions that can fuel fear or confusion.
A major concern raised by the group is public confusion over who is conducting enforcement operations. Local police are trained in community engagement, de-escalation, and constitutional standards, while federal immigration agents operate under a different mandate.
When residents can’t tell the difference, Molina warned, they may hesitate to report crimes, assist investigations, or seek help when they are victimized.
NLPOA also flagged reports of U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and even law enforcement officers being questioned during immigration actions. “Any incident that compromises constitutional protections weakens confidence in the system,” Molina said.
Looking ahead, the group cautioned about lasting damage if communities — especially young people — begin to view policing as detached from justice and accountability.
“Policing in America has evolved over decades,” Molina said. “Rolling that progress back would have lasting consequences.”
