Newport Beach City Council Approves Grant for Police Operation

News Summary

The Newport Beach City Council has unanimously approved a $170,000 grant for its police department to participate in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden. This initiative aims to enhance security along the U.S. border and California coastline to combat drug and human smuggling. The grant will fund mobile surveillance equipment and cover overtime costs for police personnel. However, local residents express concerns about potential immigration-related issues due to increased federal presence in the area, highlighting the balance needed between security and community trust.

Newport Beach – The Newport Beach City Council has unanimously approved a significant $170,000 grant for its police department to engage in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Operation Stonegarden. The decision was made during a council meeting held on Tuesday, with no deliberations taking place before the vote.

Operation Stonegarden is designed to bolster security along the U.S. border and California coastline, focusing on enhancing law enforcement collaboration to combat maritime drug and human smuggling. The Newport Beach Police Department will work alongside federal agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Border Patrol, to implement the operation effectively.

Included in the grant funding is an allocation of $70,000 earmarked for purchasing two mobile cameras and two handheld thermal imaging devices, which will be instrumental in monitoring “hot-spot” areas known for illicit activities. The remaining $100,000 is set aside to cover overtime costs for police personnel involved in the operation. Newport Beach Police must utilize the allocated funds by February 2027.

California’s coastline has been identified as a “border-crime target” in this agreement, prompting additional collaborative efforts such as those from officials in San Clemente, who are working with border patrol to install and monitor cameras on beaches and piers to prevent illegal panga landings.

Despite the grant’s approval, there are growing concerns regarding potential immigration-related issues arising from increased federal presence. Residents have expressed worries about a rise in federal immigration raids in Orange County and Southern California tied to Operation Stonegarden. A resident raised the importance of ensuring that grant funds will not be utilized for detaining law-abiding community members.

Pro-immigrant activists have raised alarms about Operation Stonegarden, questioning its approach and objectives. Some law enforcement entities in Arizona have opted out due to discrepancies in the mission, which has led to discussions about the implications for local immigrant communities. Many agencies involved in Operation Stonegarden assert that their participation is not intended for immigration enforcement, even though tracking arrest figures can include immigration-related arrests, leading to skepticism among critics.

Mai Nguyen Do from the Harbor Institute for Immigrant and Economic Justice has pointed out that partnerships between local law enforcement and federal agencies could potentially undermine trust within immigrant populations, creating an atmosphere of fear and uncertainty.

Overall, the Department of Homeland Security has allocated $2.7 million for Operation Stonegarden for the 2024 fiscal year, with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department overseeing the distribution of these grants. In addition to Newport Beach, other Orange County law enforcement agencies receiving part of the funding include police departments from Laguna Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, Costa Mesa, and La Habra.

As the Newport Beach Police Department gears up for participation in Operation Stonegarden, officials will need to navigate the complexities that accompany increased surveillance and enforcement in coastal areas. The balance between enhancing public safety and maintaining community trust will be crucial as the operation unfolds.

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Additional Resources

• Los Angeles Times: Newport Beach Police Grant
• Wikipedia: Operation Stonegarden
• Orange County Tribune: City Council Agenda
• Google Search: Operation Stonegarden
• Newport Beach Independent: Panga Patrol
• Google Scholar: Operation Stonegarden