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San Jose council unanimously reaffirms protections for immigrant residents amid reports of ICE activity
Summary
After hours of public comment, the San Jose City Council voted unanimously Feb. 4 to adopt a resolution reaffirming the city’s commitment to protecting residents regardless of national origin or immigration status and to pursue further steps including expanded legal services and rapid-response funding.
San Jose City Council members voted unanimously Feb. 4 to adopt a resolution reaffirming the city’s “commitment to preserving the safety and dignity of all its residents regardless of national origin or legal status.” The vote followed more than an hour of public comment and a council discussion about next steps to support immigrant communities amid reported federal immigration-enforcement activity.
The unanimous action, introduced by Council Member Peter Ortiz and co-sponsored by Council Members Cohen, Campos and Candelas, formalizes longstanding city policy that city employees, including San Jose police officers, will not ask about immigration status or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement except in narrow circumstances tied to active criminal warrants. Council and staff also committed to a series of outreach and resource steps, including a planned town hall with the police chief and city equity staff to answer resident questions and to publicize legal and community resources.
The resolution came after an extended public-comment period in which roughly 70 speakers — neighbors, nonprofit leaders and representatives of immigrant-rights groups including PASOS, Luna, Sacred Heart Community Service, West Valley Community Services and the NAACP — urged the council to deepen protections. Speakers asked the city to expand funding for immigrant legal aid, increase the capacity of the countywide Rapid Response Network and explicitly prohibit local law enforcement from sharing information with federal immigration agencies. Several speakers described families who avoid medical care, schools or work because of fear of immigration enforcement and requested 24/7 access to lawyers for detained residents.
Council members said the measure was intended to reassure residents and protect public safety by encouraging people to report crimes and use city services. In discussion, Chief of Police Paul Joseph confirmed the department’s policy: officers will not detain or arrest individuals solely on immigration status and will continue to respond to criminal activity irrespective of a person’s status. Several council members noted the need to coordinate with Santa Clara County and nonprofit partners on legal defense and rapid-response capacity and to monitor the resolution’s effects.
The council directed staff to continue collaborating with county agencies and community partners, to report back on options for funding legal services and rapid-response staff, and to hold a community information session next week for residents. The resolution passed without recorded objection.
