Nation’s Mayors Join Law Enforcement in Renewing Commitment to Cooperation and Building Community Trust

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) joined 15 other organizations representing local government leaders and state and local law enforcement in announcing an agreement to a set of principles guiding intergovernmental public safety partnerships, particularly those between federal immigration enforcement agencies and local law enforcement.

Organized by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, leaders from the 16 government and law enforcement organizations met on March 4, 2026, for a facilitated, solutions-focused discussion on cooperation between police and local government and strategies to improve public safety. The convening was prompted in part by recent immigration enforcement actions in cities, which underscored the importance of clear communication, coordination and shared expectations across all levels of government.

Participants recognized that immigration enforcement is a legitimate federal responsibility and an important component of the nation's public safety framework. At the same time, they emphasized that how enforcement activities are conducted - particularly with respect to coordination, operational tactics and communication with local partners - can have significant implications for officer safety, public trust and the effectiveness of joint operations.

The leaders also discussed strategies to improve public safety more broadly and agreed to the foundational principle of refocusing relationships and expectations between police and cities, supported by 12 additional principles and statements of agreement on the relationship between law enforcement and local leaders.

"This is not a one-time adjustment but an ongoing commitment to restore reliable operational communication; clarify and respect roles, authorities, and limitations; and ensure that enforcement tactics align with constitutional policing and community trust," noted the groups in the announcement of the agreement.

In addition to USCM, the organizations signing onto the Shared Principles of Agreement are:

• Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies (ASCIA)
• Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)
• Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA)
• Fraternal Order of Police (FOP)
• Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association (HAPCOA)
• International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators (IACLEA)
• International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP)
• International City/County Management Agency (ICMA)
• Major City Chiefs Association (MCCA)
• Major County Sheriffs of America (MCSA)
• National District Attorneys Association (NDAA)
• National League of Cities (NLC)
• National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE)
• Police Executive Research Forum (PERF)
• Small and Rural Law Enforcement Executives Association (SRLEEA)