Council advances strengthened Long Beach Values Act — staff to add protocols, signage, contract checks and justice‑fund support

The City Council voted unanimously Aug. 13 to reaffirm and expand the Long Beach Values Act. The council’s actions direct city staff to implement a set of operational measures and public protections intended to limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and to support immigrant residents facing legal, housing or service disruptions.

Key elements approved include a mayoral/council package of actions that staff will implement: (1) protocols and staff training for how city employees and facility managers should respond if federal agents appear at city properties, including a warrant‑verification review before allowing access to nonpublic areas; (2) multilingual signage and a public “commitment to immigrant communities” banner for community‑facing city facilities; (3) a centralized complaint portal and enhanced accountability pathways to investigate possible staff noncompliance; (4) contract‑level protections and procurement guidance to limit data sharing with outside vendors and to allow contract terminations where vendors’ practices conflict with the Values Act; and (5) further investments and emergency funding authority to expand the Long Beach Justice Fund (legal representation and community connectors), including two interim vendor awards the council previously authorized.

City staff described work already underway: the Office of Equity has produced a Long Beach Values Act resource guide, a concise multilingual one‑pager for residents, sample signage and an employee training curriculum. Staff said it will stand up a cross‑departmental EP3 task force (Equity, Policy, Practice and Protocol) to coordinate rapid guidance and to update protocols as decisions and court rulings evolve. The city will also require departments to identify an immigrant affairs liaison to share operational information rapidly.

Councilmembers stressed two points repeatedly: first, that the city must be able to provide operational details and a clear accountability process when the Values Act is alleged to be violated, and second, that protections should cover data and vendors as far as legally feasible. The city attorney’s office advised caution where state or multi‑jurisdictional procurement terms limit the city’s ability to add conditions to a contract, noting the city can terminate many contracts if they run counter to city law and that the administration is adding robust data‑handling language to contracts where possible.

Why it matters: The move comes amid an uptick of immigration enforcement activities in the region. Councilmembers and community organizations argued the strengthened policy framework will protect vulnerable residents, maintain trust in city services and reduce chilling effects that push immigrants away from public health or safety services. Opponents were not a major feature of this agenda item; rather community groups sought even stronger measures including a private right of action and immediate additional funding for the Justice Fund. The city attorney cautioned that a private right of action could have significant legal and fiscal consequences.

What’s next: Staff will implement trainings, signage and vendor contract language and return to council through the budget process on any requested structural funding to expand the Long Beach Justice Fund. Departments will be required to file preparedness plans and identify liaisons, and the Office of Equity will coordinate community outreach and distribute resident materials. Council asked staff to provide regular updates and to coordinate with county and state partners when appropriate.