Berkeley council moves sanctuary-city reaffirmation to consent after broad public support

The Berkeley City Council on Jan. 21 moved a resolution to reaffirm the city’s sanctuary policy to the consent calendar and approved it as part of a broader consent vote after extensive public comment in favor.

Community groups including East Bay Sanctuary Covenant, labor representatives and multiple Japanese American organizations urged the council to reaffirm sanctuary protections and to take steps to make the resolution operational. Sarah Sarami, vice president of a city union chapter, told the council the item “refers the city attorney to explore legal support in defense of sensitive sites, creates a task force to help protect against threats to immigrant communities, and requests department heads inform all staff of our sanctuary status.”

Mayor Ishii framed the vote as a reaffirmation in light of national policy shifts. “We must stay vigilant to new and ongoing threats to our community members,” the mayor said, urging public awareness and staff engagement. Multiple speakers recommended the council move from a resolution toward codifying protections in city ordinance and allocating funding to community-based organizations that provide legal and social services.

Supporters recounted historical reasons the policy matters to Berkeley residents and cited practical needs: outreach to trusted community-based organizations, legal counseling capacity and clear departmental procedures for staff. Becca Holt, an immigration attorney at Oasis Legal Services, described the importance of institutional trust-building for survivors of persecution.

The resolution was moved to consent and approved along with the rest of the consent calendar. Several commenters and commissioners urged the council to direct the proposed sanctuary task force to produce ordinance language and to identify community partners and funding sources within a clear timeline.