Riverside County Sheriff Confirms 100 Deputies Sent to Los Angeles to Assist during Immigration Demonstrations

In a phone interview with NBC Palm Springs, Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who is currently running for California governor, openly criticized the leadership in both Sacramento and Los Angeles for what he called a mismanaged response to a wave of demonstrations that began last week.

Bianco revealed that more than 100 deputies from his department were deployed to Los Angeles over the weekend to assist in managing protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). According to the Sheriff, the deployment was part of a standard mutual aid agreement that counties across the state regularly activate during times of civil unrest or resource strain.

“When Los Angeles is overwhelmed and they have exhausted their resources, they reach out to their mutual aid partners,” Bianco explained. “That starts with LA County and Orange County. Once their resources are maxed out, the state activates additional support—and that’s when we step in.”

Bianco was firm in clarifying that Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies were not participating in any ICE operations. “We are not involved in immigration enforcement,” he stated. “Our focus is public safety and support during these events.”

The Sheriff blamed State and local leaders for what he say's were poor planning and inadequate responses that leave local agencies scrambling to contain escalating tensions.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Bianco said his department is fully prepared for expected demonstrations across Riverside County and the Coachella Valley, including the No Kings Rally scheduled in several cities. “We’re ready. This isn’t new to us. Our deputies are trained and prepared to keep the peace while respecting the right to protest.”

Bianco’s comments come as political tensions rise across California over issues of immigration, law enforcement policy, and public safety.