Wahl Pledges More Frequent Reports on ICE Calls

San Diego's police chief says SDPD will report to the City Council more often on calls involving federal immigration agents.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Law Enforcement

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a municipal facade with a single flagpole, in navy and cream with a muted red accent. — San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl pledged on October 30 to report more often to the City Council on police calls involving federal immigration agents. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl issued a memo on October 30 pledging more frequent reports to the City Council about SDPD calls involving federal immigration agents. The move followed public accusations from Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera that Wahl lacked transparency on those interactions.

Why it matters

The dispute centers on how the Due Process and Safety Ordinance, which took effect in May, should be interpreted for incidents where federal agents are present but not making immigration arrests. Wahl's memo says those incidents fall outside the ordinance, but SDPD will still report them to the mayor and City Council.

The ordinance requires the police chief to issue written reports to the City Council within three business days when SDPD responds to scenes where federal agents are conducting immigration enforcement. Elo-Rivera's press release detailed four such incidents, but the total number of incidents reported to the council to date was not stated.

The players

Scott Wahl

Scott Wahl is the chief of the San Diego Police Department, responsible for overseeing the department's policies on interactions with federal agents.

Sean Elo-Rivera

Sean Elo-Rivera is a member of the San Diego City Council who has pressed for greater transparency on SDPD's dealings with federal immigration agents.

The details

SDPD spokesperson Ashley Bailey said the department has notified councilmembers of these incidents and made the communications available to the public upon request. Elo-Rivera said he published details of the incidents after SDPD sent them to his office by text message, while the memo maintains that incidents not covered by the ordinance will now be reported to the mayor and council.

July 23: An HSI vehicle broke down near Fairmount Avenue, prompting a protest and vandalism.
May: The Due Process and Safety Ordinance took effect.
October 30: Wahl issued the memo pledging more frequent reports to the City Council.
October 30: Elo-Rivera released a press release detailing four incidents involving SDPD and federal agents.

Legal Context

The Due Process and Safety Ordinance, adopted by the City Council last year, limits SDPD cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and sets a three-business-day deadline for written reports. Wahl's memo draws a line between arrest-related calls covered by that ordinance and incidents where federal agents are present without making arrests.

Residents near Fairmount Avenue and other areas where SDPD responds to federal agent activity may see reports on those calls from the City Council going forward. The reporting timeline under the ordinance means council members will receive written accounts within three business days of qualifying incidents.

The takeaway

Public reporting on police calls involving federal agents depends on how local ordinances are read, and San Diego's dispute shows that a memo can narrow a policy's scope while still expanding disclosure. Residents interested in these reports can request communications from SDPD directly.