The newly confirmed chief of the Los Angeles Police Department made it clear during a recent hearing that his department will "not assist" with the "mass deportations" in comments that sparked social media backlash.

"Since my appearance before the committee on public safety, the national election has caused many Angelenos to feel a deep, deep fear, especially in the immigrant community," new LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said at a November 8 city council meeting before being sworn in as the department’s 59th chief.

"I have met with members of the community and heard that fear. We also heard some of that just now at public comment. I know we’ll speak more about immigration later in this hearing, but I want to be unequivocally clear here in my opening comments," McDonnell continued. "LAPD will protect our immigrant community, LAPD officers will not take action to determine a person’s immigration status, and will not arrest someone for their status, and LAPD will not assist with mass deportations."