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The City of Wichita issued an official response on Friday firmly rejecting viral social media claims that alleged the city’s mayor had instructed the Wichita Police Department (WPD) to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
In its statement shared on Facebook, the city clarified that these assertions are untrue and reiterated key facts about local authority and law enforcement policy.
City’s Statement: What Was Said
Wichita’s municipal government responded directly to the online reports, saying that circulating claims about a planned ICE deployment in Wichita were false.
Officials pointed out that the mayor does not have the legal authority to issue orders to any city department — including the police — regarding cooperation with federal agencies such as ICE.
The city also stated that local government leaders have no knowledge of any upcoming immigration enforcement actions by ICE in Wichita.
Legal Authority and Local Governance
One of the central points emphasized by the city is the limits on the mayor’s powers.
- In Wichita’s system of government, the mayor cannot issue operational directives to the police.
- The Wichita Police Department operates independently from the mayor’s office when it comes to law enforcement practices and procedures.
This means that any claim suggesting the mayor ordered local officers to assist ICE lacks basis in both law and the city’s official policies.
Wichita Police Policy on Foreign Nationals
The Wichita Police Department’s Policy 514 — Arrest and Detention of Foreign Nationals outlines how officers handle encounters with individuals suspected of being in the country without legal status.
According to this policy:
- Officers are not permitted to ask for immigration documents solely to determine someone’s immigration status during routine law enforcement activities.
This policy — designed to build trust and ensure community safety — reinforces that local police enforcement is not focused on civil immigration enforcement.
Context: National Protests Over ICE
Claims about local collaboration with ICE emerged amid heightened public scrutiny of federal immigration enforcement nationwide — especially following recent protests sparked by the fatal shooting of a woman by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Across the United States, activists have held demonstrations against ICE operations, demanding more accountability and changes to how federal immigration enforcement functions.
These national debates have sometimes fueled misinformation or speculation in local communities about police cooperation with federal agencies.
Why This Matters?
Misinformation about police cooperation with federal immigration enforcement can increase distrust between residents and law enforcement, particularly in immigrant communities.
By issuing a public clarification, Wichita officials aimed to:
- Correct the record
- Reassure residents
- Prevent unnecessary fear or confusion about policing practices
Clear communication from local government helps strengthen community confidence and ensures facts — not rumors — guide public conversations.
Facts Over Rumors
The City of Wichita has firmly rejected false claims that the mayor directed the Wichita Police Department to collaborate with ICE.
Officials emphasized that the mayor lacks the authority to order local police to work with federal immigration agents, and they have no information about any planned ICE activities in the city.
Wichita Police policy also prohibits asking about immigration status solely for enforcement, reinforcing a focus on community policing rather than civil immigration matters.
By addressing these allegations directly, the city aims to keep the public informed and reduce misinformation.