Dozens of residents urge San Bernardino council to adopt sanctuary ordinance

Dozens of residents urged the San Bernardino City Council during public comment to adopt a sanctuary ordinance that would limit city cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and protect immigrant families from deportation.

Speakers at the meeting framed the proposal as both a moral and public-safety measure. "Please pass a strong and enforceable sanctuary ordinance that ensures that no city resources or personal information will assist in federal immigration," said a speaker identified as a youth advocate, reflecting a common plea heard repeatedly at the podium.

Why it matters: Supporters said a sanctuary policy would make immigrant residents more likely to report crimes, serve as witnesses and seek emergency services, which they argued would improve public safety for everyone. They also urged the council to avoid using municipal resources to assist federal immigration enforcement and to prioritize city funds for housing, health care and education.

Who spoke: The public-comment speakers included local students and advocates who identified themselves as immigrants or the children of immigrants and several local organizers and academics. Notable speakers included Chris Vasquez, regional field coordinator for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights, who said a sanctuary policy "would send a clear message to our community that the city values everyone who calls it home." Paloma Villegas, an associate professor of sociology at California State University, San Bernardino, told the council that a sanctuary ordinance would "send a message to our neighbors, community members, students and people who work in San Bernardino that this is a city that values immigrants." Denise Pinson, a resident and advocate, urged the council to pass a "strong and enforceable sanctuary ordinance to protect immigrant members of our community from deportation by all law enforcement agencies." Other speakers included Jocelyn Paz (Santos Manuel Student Union board), Geo Skelton (student/asylum status), Annie Monje, Christian Flores (Inland Congregations United for Change), and numerous residents who identified family and economic ties to the region.

What the council did: The public comment period was lengthy and drew 31 in-person speakers; the council heard those remarks during the meeting but took no vote or formal action on a sanctuary ordinance that night. Several council members noted the comments and acknowledged requests to bring the matter forward for potential future consideration.

Context and clarifications: Speakers frequently referenced court rulings and state practices in support of local noncooperation policies; however, they did not cite a specific statute or named court case at the podium. The public-comment segment was limited to 90 seconds per speaker, per the city clerk's announced rules for the meeting. Speakers often tied the sanctuary request to concerns that fear of immigration enforcement discourages victims and witnesses from contacting police, which advocates said undermines community safety.

Looking ahead: Advocates asked the newly seated council to place a sanctuary ordinance on a future agenda and to craft a policy that would prevent the use of city personnel, facilities or data to assist federal immigration enforcement. No staff report or ordinance text was presented or adopted at the meeting; any formal consideration would require a future agenda item and staff analysis.