The Abridged version:
- Sacramento City Council will consider an expansion of the city’s sanctuary city ordinance on Tuesday afternoon.
- The proposal includes reaffirming the right to protest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement office in downtown Sacramento and record interactions with immigration officers.
- Three councilmembers are also drafting an ordinance to ban ICE from using city-owned properties.
In the wake of escalating violence with immigration enforcement officers nationally, the city of Sacramento is poised to bulk up its local immigrant protection policies and protest rights.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Sacramento City Council is set to weigh in on a new immigration platform for the city. The platform includes additional protections for protesters at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement offices in downtown Sacramento, as well as affirmations of the city’s support for immigration and refugee communities.
The proposal arrives in the wake of a pair of deadly shootings by ICE officers in Minnesota in recent weeks. The shooting deaths of U.S. citizens Alex Pretti on Jan. 24 and Renee Good on Jan. 7 sparked protests and outrage across the country and locally.
According to a city staff report, the city is considering strengthening its immigration policies “given the recent increase in immigration enforcement operations and questionable policies by the Trump administration.”
The proposed resolution reaffirms rights of residents to record interactions with immigration officers and states the city’s support for statewide efforts to ban masks for federal agents and require immigration officers to identify themselves.
The resolution also states that the city will “oppose the abuse of authority by federal law enforcement officers … who engage in discriminatory practices under the guise of immigration or public safety enforcement.”
Federal building at center of protests
The new proposal arrives as protests are expected to ramp up near the John Moss Federal Building, which houses local ICE offices and immigration courtrooms.
The proposed resolution states that the city will “protect and preserve the right to free speech in and around the area surrounding the John Moss Federal Building” and affirms support for the right to picket, chant and distribute literature in public spaces.
Immigrant rights group NorCal Resist has maintained a court watch program at the federal building since May. Volunteers with the program have reported upticks in arrests at “routine” court hearings and increases in apprehensions of Afghan refugees over the last year.
“We are seeing an increase in aggression from these federal officers with any kind of court watchers,” said Giselle Garcia, programs director with NorCal Resist.
Last week, a legal observer was struck by Department of Homeland Security vehicle and detained behind the John Moss building, Garcia said. U.S. Rep. Doris Matsui called for an independent investigation into the incident.
Leaders want to ban ICE on city-owned property
Local elected leaders and community groups have been advocating for stronger policies around federal immigration enforcement since November.
Councilmembers Eric Guerra, Mai Vang and Karina Talamantes have submitted a proposal to ban ICE from using city-owned facilities such as vacant lots and garages.
“The city of Sacramento has been a sanctuary city since 1985 and we are not backing down,” Talamantes said in a recent social media post. “Our resources will not be used to harm our communities.”
The proposal could go before the council’s Law and Legislation Committee by Feb. 10, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty also released a statement on Monday asserting “a serious gap in accountability” when federal law enforcement uses deadly force without state oversight. McCarty called for new state legislation to ensure independent investigations in these cases.
“We must ensure that our laws give the attorney general clear authority to pursue independent investigations even when federal officers are involved,” McCarty said in the statement.
Felicia Alvarez is a reporter at Abridged covering accountability. She’s called Sacramento home since 2015 and has reported on government, health care and breaking news topics for both local and national news outlets.