Supervisors delay vote on ordinance limiting holds on civil immigration detainers after week of negotiations

San Francisco supervisors on Tuesday agreed to continue a major ordinance that would prohibit local law enforcement from detaining people solely on the basis of a civil immigration detainer after the person becomes eligible for release.

The board voted to postpone final action until a future meeting — scheduled for Sept. 24 — after several supervisors and outside stakeholders negotiated a set of amendments intended to narrow situations in which a sheriff or other local official might consider honoring a detainer. The motion to continue was made by Supervisor Kim and seconded by Supervisor Cohen.

The ordinance as introduced by Supervisor David Avalos would amend the administrative code to bar local officials from holding people on civil immigration detainers after they are eligible for release from custody. Supporters said the proposal is intended to protect community members’ trust in public safety agencies so that victims and witnesses will…