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Flagstaff to implement city manager directive on federal immigration agents after heated public petition debate
Summary
Council directed staff to implement a City Manager Directive clarifying how staff should respond when federal immigration enforcement appears on city property; a separate citizen petition asking council to adopt an ordinance banning ICE from city property without a judicial warrant drew large public comment but did not secure an automatic placement on a future agenda.
After extended public comment and council discussion on March 3, Flagstaff staff said they will implement a City Manager Directive immediately to clarify how employees should respond to federal immigration enforcement activity at city facilities and how the city will review requests to use city property.
City Manager Joanne Keane said the directive and associated staff protocols are intended to be implementable within state and federal law. "As your city manager I feel strongly that this is an approach that the city can support and also implement immediately," Keane said. She emphasized the city must comply with Arizona Revised Statutes (commonly cited as SB 1070/ARS 11-1051) while protecting community trust.
Assistant City Manager Shannon Anderson walked council through employee protocols: greet federal agents at public entrances, request agency names and badge numbers and the reason for the visit, request copies of warrants or court orders if agents seek entry beyond public areas, move interviews to a private conference room when appropriate, document interactions, notify a supervisor and the city attorney's office, and await legal direction before providing additional information. Keane and staff also previewed a public portal to report non‑emergency federal immigration activity; the portal will be managed by the city manager's office and is not a substitute for 911 in emergencies.
The council also considered a citizen petition titled "Prohibit ICE from operating on city-owned property," authored by Ace Overman and signed by hundreds of residents. Overman urged council to move the petition forward so an ordinance could be drafted that would require a judicial warrant for civil immigration enforcement on city property. "This ordinance will establish a clear and consistent standard," Overman said during public comment.
Opponents and some council members cautioned an outright local ordinance banning federal action on city property may be legally vulnerable under Arizona law and could risk federal funding; Phil Goldblat urged council not to place the petition on the agenda and argued the change would be largely symbolic and legally risky. City staff told council they reviewed Pima County and other jurisdictions' actions and expect some measures could prompt legal challenges.
Outcome and next steps: Council did not secure the three 'thumbs up' required to automatically place the citizen petition on a future agenda. Instead council gave staff direction to implement the City Manager Directive immediately (staff said they would put it in place "first thing tomorrow"), produce outreach materials in English and Spanish, work on signage and a public information packet (including "know your rights" materials), and return with options for possible codification (an ordinance or code amendment) after further legal analysis and community engagement. Council members also asked staff to clarify the separate administrative authority and processes that govern the city court.
What this means: The manager's directive standardizes employee procedures for interactions with federal agents, aims to reduce public anxiety, and creates a reporting trail. Petition supporters said they will press for a codified ordinance; staff and some council members said codification may require months and could raise legal questions under state law.
