RESOLUTION NO. (XX)
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COTATI TO UPHOLD THE
CIVIL RIGHTS, DIGNITY, HEALTH AND SAFETY OF OUR IMMIGRANT
POPULATION AND ALL SONOMA COUNTY RESIDENTS
WHEREAS, Sonoma County is home to persons of diverse racial, ethnic, and national backgrounds, including a large immigrant population as noted in the Portrait of Sonoma County; and
WHEREAS, all immigrant residents, whether they are U.S. citizens, permanent residents, undocumented residents, refugees, or residents with any other immigration status, are valued and integral members of our social, cultural, and economic fabric; and WHEREAS, the national rhetoric regarding immigration has resulted in concerns and uncertainty among many, including but not limited to immigrants, vulnerable residents, and families in our community, across our State, and across our nation; and WHEREAS, the City of Cotati (City) endeavors to safeguard public health and safety, which relies on trust and cooperation between all residents and local law enforcement, which requires our police department to actively work to foster trust with immigrant communities; and WHEREAS, the City Council has a long-standing goal to “Promote an equitable, compassionate, and healthy community that honors diversity as a source of strength”, which is integral to all of our actions as a City; and
WHEREAS, the statewide TRUST Act (AB 4) California Trust Act limits the circumstances under which local law enforcement can detain individuals on behalf of federal immigration authorities; and
WHEREAS, the statewide TRUTH Act (AB 2792) California Truth Act ensures transparency and oversight regarding local law enforcement’s communication with federal immigration authorities; and
WHEREAS, the statewide VALUES Act (SB 54) California Values Act limits the circumstances under which local law enforcement may use funds or personnel to support immigration enforcement, including preventing the police from asking about an individual’s immigration status, from sharing a person’s personal information with immigration authorities, unless otherwise required or permitted by law, or from arresting anyone only for having a deportation removal order or for most other immigration violations; and WHEREAS, the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as upheld by the U.S.
Supreme Court in Printz v. United States, 521 U.S. 898 (1997), protects local jurisdictions from being compelled to enforce federal regulatory programs, including federal immigration laws, under the "anti-commandeering" doctrine; and
WHEREAS, the 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as upheld by the Ninth Circuit in United States v. California, 921 F.3d 865 (9th Cir. 2019), affirms that states, such as California, have the sovereign right to decide whether to participate in federal enforcement efforts and reinforcing the constitutional principle of the anti-commandeering doctrine; and WHEREAS, the California Education Code prohibits schools from adopting policies or practices and discriminate against or hinder access to school services based on immigration status, and restricts schools from collecting or sharing information about immigration status; and WHEREAS, non-governmental organizations, such as the Secure Families Collaborative, have been coordinating immigrant services throughout Sonoma County by working with a variety of partners under a social services grant from the County of Sonoma, including legal defense services through the USF Immigration and Deportation Defense Clinic (Healdsburg), Sonoma Immigrant Services (Sonoma), Legal Aid of Sonoma County (Santa Rosa), The Immigration Institute of the Bay Area (Petaluma) and Queer Asylum Accompaniment (Sebastopol) as well as wrap around social services provided by Catholic Charities; and
WHEREAS, in a letter to the community in November 2024, the Sonoma County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association reaffirmed local police and sheriff’s commitment to the abovementioned state laws, and acknowledged that “participating in federal immigration enforcement undermines the trust and cooperation necessary for effecting policing” in our community; and WHEREAS, the City Council wants all residents of Cotati to know that interacting with local government, whether to access benefits, report a crime, file a legal document or any of the countless other ways a resident and government come together, should not put any resident at risk, regardless of immigration status; and
WHEREAS, to effectively serve and protect our community, the City responds to all police emergency calls for service as personnel resources allow, regardless of federal, state or other local law enforcement activities occurring in the City; and WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to declare that the City is a safe place for everyone, including, but not limited to, immigrants from all countries, people of color, people of all religions, gender identity, sexual orientation, people with disabilities and all vulnerable communities.
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Cotati that:
1. The statewide laws summarized in the above recitals have been enacted as a deliberate declaration that California recognizes and values the contributions of immigrants in our communities, and through these laws, we decline to participate in federal efforts to enforce immigration laws in our communities.
2. City staff shall closely protect the personal information of our residents, whether that information is collected by our police department, through our water and sewer accounts, or other situations in which sensitive information is stored and shall only release it as required by law or a lawful order of a court; and
3. Unless required by state or federal law, all City departments, officers, agents, representatives, and employees are prohibited from using City resources, property, personnel, time, labor, or funds to:
a. Investigate, interrogate, detain, detect, or arrest persons only or primarily for immigration enforcement purposes, (as defined in California Government Code§ 7284.4(f)); or
b. Communicate with federal immigration officials regarding an individual’s immigration status (as defined in California Government Code §7284.4(f)), except as required by 8 U.S.C. §1373 or other federal law.
4. The City Manager shall convey to all City Staff the prohibition on using City resources, property, personnel, time, labor, funds or sharing personal information of residents for immigration enforcement, except as required by law or a lawful order of a judge.
5. To the degree possible, considering the safety of our officers and other community members, as well as other competing emergency calls for service, our police officers shall endeavor to be on-site for any significant immigration enforcement actions to attempt to identify on-scene federal supervisors, observe and record the operation, and intervene to prevent any excessive use of force by officers that is clearly beyond what is necessary or objectively reasonable, in compliance with Assembly Bill 26.
6. The City shall maintain its webpage on Immigration Frequently Asked Questions, including but not limited to the existing legislative measures in place protecting individuals against the cooperation between state and local government officials and federal immigration enforcement, resources for immigrant communities including legal resources, the Secure Families Collaborative, and the Public Defender’s office.
7. The City Manager shall work with the Sonoma County Department of Emergency Management to coordinate City emergency planning with the Local Immigration Enforcement Impact Concept of Operations (CONOPS) as well as other operational area planning in the event of a significant immigration enforcement action in Sonoma County.
8. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to safeguarding the civil rights of all our residents.
IT IS HEREBY CERTIFIED that the foregoing resolution was duly adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Cotati held on April 14, 2026, by the following vote, to wit:
Approved:___________________________
Mayor
Attest:______________________________
Kevin Patterson, City Clerk
Approved as to form:______________________________
City Attorney