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Cotati City Council weighs steps to shield residents during federal immigration enforcement
Summary
At a May 12 joint meeting, Cotati City staff recommended a resolution reaffirming current practice not to assist federal civil immigration enforcement, exploring an operational response aligned with Sonoma County, and drafting a prohibition on using city property and resources for civil immigration enforcement; public commenters urged stronger protections and community outreach.
Cotati — City staff on Tuesday laid out options for protecting residents if federal immigration enforcement operations occur locally, recommending the council reaffirm existing practices that limit local cooperation, draft a resolution prohibiting use of city property and resources for civil immigration enforcement, and coordinate an operational response with Sonoma County.
During a joint meeting of the Cotati City Council and the Cotati Community Police Advisory Committee, staff summarized state and regional precedents — including local ordinances and resolutions in Bay Area cities — and advised caution about ordinances that would attempt to restrict federal agents’ access to broadly public areas because they could prompt costly litigation. The meeting drew a large public-comment turnout; several residents and faith leaders urged the council to move quickly and include Spanish-language outreach and clearer community-notification procedures.
Staff framed the issue…
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