West Sacramento council bars city resources from federal civil immigration enforcement

The West Sacramento City Council on May 20 adopted a policy that restricts the use of city resources for federal civil immigration enforcement.

Deputy City Manager Doug Drose told the council the proposed Resolution 26-32 (policy IB-08) would “prohibit the use of city resources to assist in federal civil immigration enforcement activities,” including asking staff not to request, collect, or share information about a person’s citizenship or immigration status unless required by law or authorized by a judicial warrant. The policy also bars the use of city-owned facilities — parking lots, garages and open spaces — as staging or processing sites for civil immigration operations and directs the city manager to identify properties, install signage where appropriate and consider physical access controls.

A requirement in the proposal calls for documenting any requests from immigration authorities for access to property records or city facilities and reporting those requests through department leadership so the city manager can compile an annual public summary for the council.

One resident, Patience Silva, urged the council to vote against the policy, saying she wanted the city to be able to “communicate and collaborate with the federal government” in cases involving criminals and expressing concern about limiting cooperation. Silva said the resolution “seems more based on emotion” and asked who initiated the item.

Council members responded by framing the resolution as a response to growing federal enforcement actions and civil-rights concerns. One council member noted that the policy builds on past city actions, including the council’s 2017 vote supporting California’s SB 54 (the California Values Act) and an earlier resolution declining participation in the federal 287(g) program. Supporters on the dais cited bipartisan mayoral letters and national municipal calls for clearer limits and accountability for federal enforcement in local jurisdictions.

The motion to adopt Resolution 26-32 was moved and seconded and passed on a roll-call vote with all present council members voting yes. The council directed the city manager or designee to take actions necessary to implement the policy.

The policy text states it remains consistent with state and federal law and does not interfere with execution of lawful judicial warrants, criminal law-enforcement activities or existing contractual obligations. The council’s public summary of implementation steps and any requests from immigration authorities will be provided in an annual report to the council.