Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Immigration Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Police Commission adopts revisions to immigration-enforcement policy for meet-and-confer
Summary
The San Francisco Police Commission voted to send revisions to Department General Order 5.15 (enforcement of immigration laws) to the Police Officers Association for meet-and-confer after community debate over language that references federal or state law.
The San Francisco Police Commission on Feb. 21 voted to adopt revisions to Department General Order 5.15, the department policy governing SFPD interaction with federal immigration authorities, and sent the draft to the Police Officers Association for the meet-and-confer process.
Commissioner Dennis Hing, who co-chaired the working group drafting the revision, moved the commission to adopt the updated language. Hing said the edits clarify which types of federal detainer requests and joint operations the department will decline and how the department should report and review any unexpected cooperation with federal immigration authorities. "There needs to be an immediate report to us that that happened and what the circumstances were," Hing said during discussion.
Chief Bill Scott told the commission the revisions reflect the department's commitment to San Francisco's sanctuary-policy framework and public trust. "It's our commitment to foster respect and trust between local law enforcement and our community, which is reflected in our policies, including general order 5.15," Scott said.
Community advocates who participated in the working group largely thanked commissioners for their work, but some urged additional edits. Marissa Lasparza of the San Francisco Immigrant Legal and Education Network said one clause — language that allows cooperation "except as required by federal or state law" — risks creating a loophole and undermines community trust. "That last clause ... feels like a loophole," Lasparza said. Sarah Jose of the Asian Law Caucus urged the commission to review where the clause appears in the text and whether it is placed appropriately.
Commissioners said the draft must remain legally consistent with ongoing litigation and city legal strategy; the motion approved by the commission was explicitly to advance the document into the bargaining process with the Police Officers Association, not to finalize the policy. The motion, moved by Commissioner Hing and seconded on the floor, passed on roll call with Commissioners Marshall, De Jesus, Malera, Hing, Hirsch and Vice President Mizuko voting "aye." The motion passed 6–0.
The commission will return the document to the city attorney and to negotiators as part of the meet-and-confer process; any final adoption will be subject to further action following those negotiations.
