Spokespeople for the Lawrence Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said that neither agency was involved in Tuesday’s ICE sightings and arrests, nor did they know they were coming.

Multiple reports of ICE presence spread throughout Lawrence Tuesday. One video showed people wearing ICE tactical vests handcuffing someone at the corner of 25th and Iowa Streets. Sanctuary Alliance, a Lawrence-based collective advocating for immigrant rights, reported sightings at five locations and said that three people had been detained by ICE. Read more about that at this link.

Federal immigration law is a civil system, not a criminal system. ICE’s operations are a function of the federal government, not city or county law enforcement.

In 2025, Douglas County Sheriff Jay Armbrister said that DGSO disagrees with mass deportation of family and children. He said that the office would follow the law but not actively seek people out for ICE.

DGSO said it did not collaborate with ICE on Tuesday.

“What we know is what we learned from local sources and social media because ICE does not notify local law enforcement when they are coming, why they are here, when they are gone and whom they removed,” Armbrister said in an emailed statement.

“It is frustrating when they demand cooperation from local law enforcement on several fronts but offer less than zero in return. They swoop in, cause chaos, alter lives and sneak out without so much as a word.”

George Diepenbrock, a spokesperson with DGSO, confirmed that ICE did not book anyone into the county jail in the last 48 hours.

“It would not be typical for ICE to bring someone to be held in our jail, though,” he wrote. “Nearly all of our dealings with ICE would be due to an ICE request on an individual already being held on local charges.”

Similarly, Laura McCabe, a spokesperson with the Lawrence Police Department, said LPD was aware of social media reports about ICE, and had seen videos and pictures.

“LKPD has not been contacted by the Department of Homeland Security and LKPD has not provided any assistance,” she wrote.

Lawrence became a sanctuary city in 2020, but alterations to the ordinance in 2022 removed language barring law enforcement from inquiring about immigration status and from cooperating with ICE agents.

McCabe provided a document outlining the department’s policy on immigration enforcement. Here’s the full policy (click here to open the PDF in a new tab):

Lawrence-Police-Immigration-policy-as-of-20260217

“No member (of LPD) shall stop, question, arrest, or detain any individual based solely upon actual or suspected citizenship or immigration status,” according to the policy. “Generally, immigration enforcement is not a local law enforcement matter.”

The policy does outline situations in which LPD may collaborate with ICE officers. LPD must provide public notice if ICE or another federal agency asks for local officer assistance as soon as they deem possible. They would make a follow-up report within 48 hours after ICE’s request is resolved or LPD renders assistance and considers the activity resolved. The report would be posted on LPD’s website, or anyone can ask for it.

“If there is probable cause to believe that the individual may be armed, has a history of violence, or presents a danger to ICE agents or to other members of the public, the LPD may respond as backup,” per the policy. “In those cases, LPD members will assume non-contact positions, such as securing the perimeter or observational positions, unless a public safety situation occurs.”

The policy also indicates that LPD will verify any warrants, as “ICE may issue civil detainers or administrative warrants.” LPD’s policy states that officers need a criminal warrant to detain, arrest or transport someone.

The Fourth Amendment allows people to refuse a search without a judicial warrant. The National Immigrant Justice Center recommends not opening the door if an officer knocks, and teaching that to children.

“Officers must have a warrant signed by a judge to enter your home,” per an NIJC fact sheet. “ICE ‘warrants’ are not signed by judges; they are ICE forms signed by ICE officers and they do not grant authority to enter a home without consent of the occupant(s).”

How to report ICE sightings to advocates

The Sanctuary Alliance volunteer said the best thing community members could do is to continue to report possible ICE sightings through their hotline, as opposed to sending messages on social media or emails. The hotline is the best way to get ahold of volunteers in an urgent situation.

You can reach the Sanctuary Alliance hotline at 785-289-5143.

Somos Lawrence also operates a hotline that people can reach at 785-813-1098.

Read more under “Know your rights” in this article.

Wulfe Wulfemeyer (they/them), reporter and news editor, has worked with The Lawrence Times since May 2025. They can be reached at wulfe@lawrencekstimes.com.

Read their complete bio here. Read their work for the Times here.

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