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Soledad council reaffirms sanctuary-city stance and forms ad hoc immigration task force
Summary
Council confirmed that the 2017 sanctuary-city resolution remains in effect, directed staff to reaffirm that status and to coordinate 'know your rights' forums and legal clinic partnerships. Council also agreed to form a local ad hoc immigration task force to work with the county and community groups on outreach and emergency planning for mixed-status families.
Staff recalled Soledad—s existing 2017 Resolution No. 5278 designating the city as a sanctuary city and asked council for direction on renewing outreach and protection measures. Staff and council confirmed the 2017 resolution remains in effect and discussed the possibility of reaffirming the language to reflect 2024 priorities.
Multiple public commenters expressed fear and asked what sanctuary-city status means in practice. Alba, a community member representing farmworker concerns, asked whether sanctuary status would prevent federal enforcement or protect family members in the event of immigration enforcement actions. City staff and the police chief replied that the city cannot pre-empt federal enforcement: "We can't stop the federal government from coming in and enforcing immigration law," staff said, but the city—s policy is to refrain from using city resources to enforce federal immigration law except where criminal activity is involved. The chief added that local police have built trust and will be cautious about actions that would undermine community relationships.
Councilmembers and several public speakers called for immediate local action: coordinated "know your rights" workshops, Spanish-language legal clinics, and a uniform resource "red card" summarizing rights and emergency contacts. Mayor Ana Velasquez and other council members supported creating an ad hoc immigration task force and participating in the county—s ad hoc effort. Councilmember Fernando Cabrera and Councilmember Caldera (as previously discussed) agreed to serve as city representatives on the new task force.
Why this matters: The discussion reflects local concerns about federal immigration policy changes and the need for clear, accessible information and legal support for mixed-status families. The council emphasized coordination with county and nonprofit partners, and local workshops aimed at children and families.
Next steps: Staff will prepare a reaffirmation of the 2017 resolution for council consideration, coordinate distribution of uniform "red cards" with the county, and convene the ad hoc immigration task force to plan outreach, legal clinics and community forums.
