Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board Continues Vote on Sanctuary‑city Update After Heated Debate; Supervisors Seek Agreement With Sheriff
Summary
Supervisors voted to continue debate for two weeks on proposed amendments to local policy limiting city assistance to federal immigration enforcement, after lengthy discussion about recent protests and mistrust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
The Board of Supervisors voted on May 10 to continue for two weeks consideration of proposed amendments to the city’s sanctuary‑policy language that would prohibit the use of city funds or resources to assist in enforcement of federal immigration law, with a narrow goal of removing an older provision that officials said created a broad funnel into federal immigration enforcement.
Supervisor David Campos moved the continuance after a lengthy debate that tied the revised language to recent protests and to the preliminary Blue Ribbon Panel findings on policing. Supporters said the change is necessary to preserve trust between immigrants and local law enforcement and to close a loophole added to the city’s ordinance decades earlier that allowed local jails to communicate with federal immigration agents about any person “booked on a felony.” Opponents argued about process and whether supervisors should be allowed to raise time‑sensitive questions.
The motion to continue to the May 24 meeting carried on a roll call (11 ayes). Several supervisors said they want more time to negotiate with Sheriff Vicki Hennessey to ensure a shared approach and narrower, clearer rules about notification and detention given changes in federal ICE practice (the federal program had shifted toward asking for notice upon release rather than formal detainers). The sheriff had circulated guidance but supervisors said differences remain and they wanted time to align city policy and the sheriff’s operational rules.
Supervisor Malia Cohen urged a continuance that would allow the Board and sheriff to converge on language. Supervisor Mark Farrell and Supervisor Scott Wiener — who had earlier voiced procedural concerns about ad hoc questions — supported the continuance to continue negotiations. The cloture to continue was approved by roll call.
Public commenters and members of immigrant rights groups were present and vocal during the discussion, urging the Board to tighten protections and prevent local participation in deportation processes, while others expressed concern about process and public safety. No final ordinance was adopted on May 10; the measure was set for further discussion on May 24.
