April 21, 2026
City Attorney's Office
DATE: April 21, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM: Shasa Curl, Richmond City Manager
Shannon L. Moore, Interim City Attorney
Kimberly Y. Chin, Senior Assistant City Attorney
Subject: Amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30
regarding Use of City Resources for Civil Immigration
Enforcement
FINANCIAL IMPACT: Implementation of the proposed amendments to Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 is not expected
to result in significant immediate costs. Any staff time required to develop implementation procedures,
interdepartmental protocols, training materials, and
community-facing communications can be supported
within existing departmental operating budgets. Should
future resource needs arise beyond current capacity,
staff will return to the City Council with funding
recommendations as part of the annual budget
development process or through a separate appropriation request.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
February 3, 2026
March 3, 2026
March 17, 2026
March 24, 2026
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
On February 3, 2026, the City Council directed the City Manager and City Attorney to return with a proposed Ice- Free Zone Ordinance. The proposed ordinance shall
restrict the use of City-owned or City-controlled property, facilities, personnel, and resources for federal civil
immigration enforcement.
AGENDA
REPORT
April 21, 2026
RECOMMENDED ACTION: ADOPT an ordinance (second reading) amending Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 to clarify
limitations on the use of city property, personnel, and resources for civil immigration enforcement and develop implementation procedures, including communications
plans, and reporting requirements – City Attorney’s Office (Shannon Moore 510-620-5509/Kimberly Chin 510-620-
6709).
DISCUSSION:
The City of Richmond has a long history of supporting and welcoming immigrant communities. This staff report is a follow-up to the February 3, 2026, City Council meeting, where direction was provided to the City Manager and City Attorney to return with a proposed ICE-Free Zone Ordinance. The proposed ordinance would amend Richmond Municipal Code (RMC) Chapter 2.30 to further clarify the use of City, facilities, personnel, and resources for federal civil immigration enforcement activities, to the extent permitted by law. This includes prohibiting the use of City property as staging areas, processing or detention locations, or operational bases for such enforcement.
The ordinance also instructs City staff to develop non-cooperation and resource-denial policies consistent with applicable federal and state law and a coordinated implementation strategy, including interdepartmental protocols, staff training, and a community-facing preparedness and communications plan.
Amendments to Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30
In March 2025, the City Council passed Ordinance 8-25 N.S., which added Chapter
2.30 to the RMC. Chapter 2.30 limits the use of City resources for federal immigration enforcement to the extent allowed by law. Specifically, RMC Section 2.30.030 provides that: “No City resources, including but not limited to City personnel and City property, shall be utilized to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law,” unless required by federal or state law. To further clarify the City’s limitations on the use of City resources, mainly City property, in relation to enforcement of federal immigration law, the City Attorney’s Office (CAO) has prepared proposed amendments to RMC Chapter
2.30 based on multiple meetings with City Councilmembers to discuss the scope, implementation considerations, and potential impacts of the proposed amendments.
The proposed amendments to RMC Chapter 2.30:
Clarify the scope of limitations on the use of City property, including explicitly prohibiting its use as a staging area, processing location, or operational base for civil immigration enforcement activities;
Further define and clarify what constitutes “use of City resources” for purposes of enforcement restrictions;
Establish departmental responsibilities for implementation, including training employees on the provisions of RMC Chapter 2.30 and associated administrative procedures;
April 21, 2026
Formalize the development and implementation of a community-facing communications and preparedness plan; and
Establish reporting requirements to monitor and document implementation of RMC Chapter 2.30.
This ordinance furthers the City’s interest in maintaining the relationship of trust between the City and all of its residents, including its immigrant community; protecting the safety, well-being, and constitutional rights of its residents; ensuring effective policing; and directing the City’s limited resources to matters of the greatest concern. It is not intended to impede or interfere with lawful federal authority.
If the ordinance is introduced and approved at first reading on April 7, 2026, and no substantive changes are made, the second reading is anticipated to occur on April 28, 2026. The ordinance would take effect 30 days thereafter, on May 28, 2026.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Proposed Ordinance (Redline)
Attachment 2 – Proposed Ordinance (Clean)