City of Wichita Refutes Social Media Claims About Police Cooperation With ICE

The City of Wichita has issued an official statement addressing misleading social media posts claiming Mayor Lily Wu directed the Wichita Police Department (WPD) to collaborate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In its response, city officials emphasized that Wichita’s governmental structure does not grant the mayor administrative authority to direct any city department, including the police force. The statement further clarified that officials are not aware of any planned deployment of ICE officers within the community.

“It is the policy of WPD to not request documents to determine citizenship status,” the city stated, reinforcing its established protocols regarding immigration enforcement at the local level.

The clarification comes amid growing community concern fueled by unverified social media posts suggesting ICE raids were occurring throughout Wichita. Despite these claims gaining traction online, immigration experts in the area report no confirmed instances of such enforcement operations.

Sarah Balderas, an immigration attorney with the Kansas Immigration Coalition, addressed the situation, urging the community to exercise caution when sharing unverified information online. “What we’ve been preaching is, if you see something happening, we’re not discrediting what you’re seeing. But there are better ways to go about reporting what you’re seeing than getting on social media and scaring people,” Balderas said.

While ICE does maintain an office in Wichita, local experts confirm there have been no large-scale immigration operations recently reported in the area. The spread of unverified information has caused unnecessary anxiety within immigrant communities, according to advocacy groups working in the region.

When contacted by local media outlet KWCH, both the Wichita Police Department and the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office noted that even if ICE were conducting operations locally, the federal agency typically does not notify local law enforcement about such activities. This jurisdictional separation is standard practice nationwide, where immigration enforcement remains primarily a federal responsibility.

The situation highlights the increasing challenge local governments face in addressing misinformation that spreads rapidly through social media channels. False or misleading claims about immigration enforcement can create climate of fear within vulnerable communities and potentially undermine trust in local institutions.

Immigration policy has remained a politically charged topic across Kansas and the broader Midwest, where agricultural and manufacturing sectors rely significantly on immigrant labor. Cities like Wichita often find themselves navigating the complex relationship between federal immigration policies and local community needs.

Community organizations throughout Wichita have responded by hosting information sessions to educate residents about their rights and the actual procedures governing immigration enforcement. These efforts aim to provide accurate information to counter the spread of rumors that can cause unnecessary panic.

The City of Wichita’s statement reflects a growing trend among municipal governments to proactively address misinformation, particularly on issues that directly impact community safety and well-being. By clarifying both the mayor’s role and the police department’s practices, officials hope to reassure residents while maintaining transparency about intergovernmental relationships.

Local advocacy groups continue to monitor the situation and encourage community members to seek information from official sources rather than relying solely on unverified social media reports.