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Supervisor Campos introduces resolution urging boycott of Arizona over SB1070 and joins calls to protect workers from ICE audits
Summary
Supervisor Campos introduced a pair of measures at Tuesday's board meeting: a resolution urging the City and County of San Francisco to curtail certain business and travel ties with the state of Arizona over that state's SB 1070 immigration enforcement law, and a separate resolution opposing ICE workplace audits that are affecting janitorial and
Supervisor David Campos used his introduction time at Tuesday's Board of Supervisors meeting to introduce two connected items: a proposed city resolution urging a boycott of the state of Arizona while its immigration law SB 1070 remained in effect, and a resolution opposing aggressive U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement workplace audits that are affecting local janitorial workers.
The Arizona measure, cosponsored by several supervisors, asks city departments to refrain, where practicable and without significant added cost, from entering new or amended contracts with companies headquartered in Arizona; urges city agencies to avoid sending employees to conferences in Arizona; and encourages private firms to consider similar measures. The resolution also asks the city attorney's office to support similar actions and calls on national sports leagues and professional associations to reconsider holding events in Arizona while the law remains in force. The measure was introduced for future consideration and not voted on at the meeting.
On federal enforcement, Campos said ICE had announced a nationwide program of workplace audits—sometimes called "desktop" or electronic audits—targeting employers, and that local janitors and other workers had been directly affected. Campos said the federal approach was "harassing workers" and that San Francisco would press for comprehensive immigration reform instead of punitive workplace audits. He said the mayor intended to send a letter to the President in coordination with the resolution.
The items generated broad applause from several supporters in the audience, including janitorial union representatives and immigrant-rights organizations who stood in the chamber for recognition. Campos said the resolutions were deliberately measured: they target state leadership and corporate entities rather than residents and are structured to respect legal constraints on municipal contracting.
Why it matters: The proposed city-level boycott resolution responds to a divisive state law and seeks to use local purchasing and event-planning discretion as a political lever. The ICE-targeted resolution centers on the immediate economic effects of workplace audits on local workers and seeks to direct city resources and advocacy on their behalf.
Quotes from the meeting
"Instead of focusing on these kinds of divisive and aggressive and draconian tactics, our federal government should be focusing on passing comprehensive immigration reform," Supervisor Campos said about ICE audits.
"This resolution is not a resolution that is against the people of the state of Arizona. We have a lot of respect for the people of the state of Arizona. This resolution is focused on the leadership of the state of Arizona that has decided to take a very draconian measure," Campos said, introducing the boycott resolution.
What's next: The resolution was introduced and will return for committee consideration and a board vote at a future date. Campos said he expects further discussion with the mayor's office and the city attorney before a final vote.
Ending note: Campos presented the measures as part of the board's broader role in responding to state and federal immigration policy; the introductions set the stage for additional debate and potential municipal policy actions in the weeks ahead.
