Board finalizes ordinance limiting local detentions on civil immigration detainers

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave final passage to an ordinance that bars local law‑enforcement officials from detaining individuals on the basis of civil immigration detainers once those individuals are otherwise eligible for release from custody, except in limited circumstances involving violent‑felony charges or recent convictions.

Supervisor David Avalos, who led the item on the floor, framed the ordinance as a protection for victims and immigrants. In remarks before the vote he said the bill “has been a real beacon of hope” for community members who spoke in committee and that the measure was particularly significant during Domestic Violence Awareness Month, given testimony that some survivors were further harmed by civil‑immigration enforcement. “Many years ago, we planted the seeds of hope, and today we are harvesting justice,” Avalos said.

The ordinance amends the Administrative Code to prohibit law enforcement from holding people on civil immigration detainers after they are eligible for release, with an exception for individuals who have a recent violent‑felony conviction or are currently charged with a violent felony and may pose a public‑safety risk. The City Attorney and department staff drafted language to reflect those narrow public‑safety exceptions.

The board took a roll‑call vote for final passage; the clerk recorded 11 ayes. The ordinance was recorded as “finally passed” in the meeting minutes.

Because the measure changes local detention practice in interaction with federal immigration detainers, supervisors and advocates described the ordinance as intended to clarify local procedure and limit local exposure to federal civil‑detainer enforcement. Implementation will be carried out by the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office under the terms of the new Administrative Code section.