Los Alamos Police Chief Clarifies Immigration Policy, Says No ICE Operations Planned

Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone issued a public statement on January 28 clarifying the county police department’s approach to immigration-related matters and saying there was no information indicating U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations were planned in Los Alamos at that time. The statement emphasized that the department’s priorities remain public safety and preserving the peace.

Sgambellone wrote that the Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) will cooperate with federal partners as required by law while handling calls for service in an impartial manner. He said victims and witnesses will not be asked about citizenship as a condition for reporting crimes, a point intended to reassure residents who may fear immigration-related inquiries when contacting police.

The chief also reiterated a legal and practical limit on local authority: Los Alamos police have no power to direct or stop federal immigration operations. That distinction matters for residents because coordination with federal agencies is sometimes necessary but local officers cannot prevent federal actions initiated by other agencies.

For residents of Los Alamos County, including Los Alamos National Laboratory employees, contractors, students and families, the statement sought to reduce uncertainty about whether local law enforcement would be involved in immigration enforcement. By stressing impartial response to calls for service and the policy that citizenship status will not be a prerequisite for reporting crimes, the chief aimed to preserve community trust and encourage reporting of criminal activity without fear of immigration enforcement being a barrier.

The clarification also underscores the layered nature of law enforcement jurisdiction in the United States. Local police are responsible for public-safety policing and for responding to 911 calls and other local incidents, while federal immigration authorities operate under separate statutes and mandates. Sgambellone’s note that he had no information about ICE operations at that time is a snapshot of one point in an evolving environment; it does not alter the underlying jurisdictional separation.

Los Alamos residents should take the statement as an assurance that reporting crimes to local police remains an option without citizenship inquiries, while also recognizing that federal agencies operate independently when they choose to do so. Monitor official Los Alamos County and Los Alamos Police Department communications for any updates, and continue to use established reporting channels for non-emergency and emergency situations so public-safety priorities are maintained.