Chula Vista council approves first reading of 'Safe Neighbor' ordinance, adds semiannual reporting on federal law-enforcement activity

The Chula Vista City Council adopted on first reading an ordinance (retitled the "Safe Neighbor" ordinance) to clarify the city’s nonparticipation in federal immigration enforcement and to tighten transparency and reporting when federal law-enforcement activity occurs.

Councilmember Chavez, who introduced the ordinance, said the measure "makes clear that we do not share immigration-status information, and we do not participate in immigration enforcement." She said the goal is to preserve residents’ confidence and public safety by ensuring people feel safe contacting city services.

Public testimony on the ordinance was strongly supportive and came from teachers, clergy, labor leaders and community organizers. Speakers urged strict compliance and independent auditing: Nancy Yamagata, an educator, said she appreciated the ordinance’s accountability elements and urged consideration of independent audits to ensure data are not accessed by federal agencies; Marco Briones of the regional labor council and Lucille Garte from the Sweetwater Education Association urged council support to protect immigrant students and workers.

Councilmembers discussed and accepted a staff-supported amendment to the reporting schedule (section 2.1908). The revision requires the city manager to provide written reports every six months covering the preceding six-month period. The council also asked for an initial report covering January 1–December 31, 2025, to be submitted by July 1, 2026; staff requested 90 days to prepare that material. Councilmember Enzunza pledged that if any evidence showed data from systems such as Flock had been shared improperly with federal authorities, he would move to end the city’s use of that system.

The motion to adopt the ordinance as amended (with a title change to "Safe Neighbor") passed on first reading 4-0; Mayor McCann recused himself from the item because of his status as a U.S. Navy officer. This vote completes first reading; next procedural steps include preparing the formal ordinance language as amended and scheduling a subsequent reading or adoption vote per council rules.

Separately, councilmembers agreed by consensus to direct the city attorney, in coordination with the city manager and police, to return within the requested timeline with a draft policy addressing death threats and credible threats against municipal employees and elected officials.