ITY O
RIVERSIDE
City of Arts & Innovation City Council Memorandum
TO: CITY COUNCIL DATE: OCTOBER 14, 2025
FROM: COUNCILMEMBER CERVANTES AND WARDS: ALL
THE HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION
SUBJECT: ADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE CITY COUNCIL AND CITY
OF RIVERSIDE AFFIRMING THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSPARENCY
COMMUNITY SAFETY, PUBLIC SAFETY, AND CLEAR IDENTIFICATION
STANDARDS IN FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES IN THE CITY OF RIVERSIDE.
ISSUE:
The issue for the City Council is consideration of a local supportive role in calling for a community and public safety resolution that outlines clear expectations and recommended actions to address ongoing federal immigration enforcement activities in the City of Riverside.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is recommended that the City Council:
1. Adopt the attached Resolution passed by the Human Relations Commission on August 28, 2025; or in the alternative, adopt the recommended revised Resolution; or alternatively provide input to send the Resolution back to the Human Relations Commission to make necessary changes, provide recommendations, and return to Council within 30-60 days; and
2. Explore establishing a legal justice aid fund for Riverside residents.
BACKGROUND:
A. City of Riverside Mission Statement and Values:
On September 18, 2001, the City Council adopted a "Building a More Inclusive Riverside Community" statement consisting of a set of principles based upon the premises that (1) Riversiders should be and see themselves as respected, contributing members of the community; and (2) that all Riversiders should be bound by a common set of principles based on fairness of treatment, recognition of rights, acceptance of responsibilities, commitment to equality, and dedication to expanding opportunities for all. It further states, "a city of considerable racial, ethnic, religious, and other types of diversity, Riverside has etched a complex history. That history has included both significant efforts to achieve greater justice, equality, and understanding, as well as unfortunate periods and events that have demonstrated the need for increased commitment, ideas, and action to work toward these goals."
Resolution of Community and Public Safety • Page 2
In support of the City of Riverside's long-standing culture and responsibility to uphold the values of inclusion, diversity, and equality, regardless of religion, race or nationality; a resolution has been drafted to address the extremely concerning actions and violation of constitutional rights impacting U.S. citizens and noncitizens alike by the federal government and Trump administration as it relates to immigration and federal enforcement activities.
The resolution was heard by the Human Relations Commission on August 28, 2025, where the commission received only positive comments in support with over forty comments via the online Clerk's portal, in person, and online. The Commission voted unanimously to adopt the original resolution with no edits, recommending the City Council adopt the resolution.
Lastly, the resolution is in alignment with our Envision Riverside 2025 plan which states; the City of Riverside is committed to providing high-quality municipal services to ensure a safe, inclusive, and livable community; and Riverside is a city where every person is respected and cherished, where equity is essential to community well-being, where residents support one another, and where opportunities exist for all to prosper. In Riverside, everyone comes together to help the community, economy, and environment reach their fullest potential for the public good.
B. Federal immigration enforcement, public safety, and Supreme Court ruling:
1. There have been documented arrests made by local law enforcement across the United States, including in Southern California, where a man suspected of posing as a federal immigration officer was arrested in June 2025. Authorities in several different cases have charged people for kidnapping, impersonating a police officer, assault and battery, and possession for an unregistered firearm, to name a few.
2. The resolution addresses the increasing reports of ongoing immigration enforcement operations in various Wards which have raised fear and concerns among community members when federal immigration enforcement personnel arrested people in the city of Riverside using unmarked vehicles, plainclothes attire, often with their faces covered or masked, and without clearly visible identification.
3. The general public and national outlets have raised valid concerns about the violation of the 4th amendment and racial profiling laws following the Supreme Court Ruling in September 2025 which effectively permits federal immigration personnel to use profiling factors, despite a lower court finding them unlawful.
4. Immigrants, particularly those of Latino descent who are perceived to be in low-wage jobs or who speak Spanish, will continue to face increased risk of being stopped and questioned by federal immigration personnel.
5. Justice Sotomayor warned in her dissent and response that this decision implies that Latino/a/x individuals, regardless of citizenship status are "fair-game" to be detained.
C. Data, Research, Economic, and Community Impacts:
1. Over 54% of residents identify as Latino/Latinx/Hispanic, and 22.3% are foreign-born.
2. Immigrants hold nearly 28% of jobs across key local industries including agriculture, logistics, healthcare, and education. This workforce makes vital contributions to Riverside's economic growth, cultural vitality, and community life. Protecting trust and safety for immigrant residents ensures the continued stability of these sectors, which are cornerstones of the City's economy.
Resolution of Community and Public Safety • Page 3
3. 2025 Data from the Rapid Raid Response in Riverside gathered by the Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice (IC4IJ) shows the following information regarding federal immigration enforcement in the city but is not limited to:
a. 15 confirmed federal enforcement operations in Riverside. b. 115 confirmed ICE sightings documented in the city
c. 200 hotline calls from Riverside residents reporting enforcement concerns.
4. Residents and volunteer community patrols have documented several of these interactions via video and photography, which have been circulated on social media with several going viral, gaining hundreds upon thousands of views and shares across multiple platforms, pages, news outlets, and beyond.
5. An article published by KVCR 91.9 NPR states, "The University of California Riverside published a study that links detention, deportation, and workplace raids to anxiety, trauma, and emotional distress in children whose parents are undocumented. Researchers say both pre- and post-migration family separations hurt children's emotional development and academic performance."
6. Small businesses are feeling the impacts, and our local economy is suffering as less people are going out to enjoy recreational events, activities, shopping, and so forth. The impacts have been so detrimental that people are afraid to go to the grocery store which has prompted local stores like Northgate Gonzalez Market to offer food pick-up outside their stores to keep families safe.
7. Additional impacts have been seen and felt at the following locations and sites with a decrease in foot traffic and attendance at: hospitals and healthcare centers, public schools, childcare and daycare facilities, community centers, open spaces such as parks, farmers markets, swap meets, restaurants, and so forth.
D. Upholding local values and abiding by California law
1. With the City Council of Riverside considering and possibly adopting the Safe Communities Resolution, this affirms the importance of transparency, community safety, accountability, and economic stability in relation to federal immigration enforcement. The resolution builds upon the principles of California state laws SB 627 and SB 805, emphasizing fairness, clear identification, and trust between residents and government institutions as essential to both public safety and economic prosperity.
2. The resolution provides clear steps that the City can take to protect the constitutional rights of residents, regardless of their immigration status, and ensure that all our neighborhoods are free and safe from vigilantes and people impersonating law enforcement. This is critical to preserving trust within our local law enforcement and keeping our communities safe.
3. Furthermore, it outlines steps that the City Council and City staff can take to support families and the community at large during these challenging and uncertain times through the Know Your Rights public education campaign and with exploring the creation of a legal justice fund that can support Riverside residents and families directly impacted.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the adoption of the proposed resolution.
Resolution of Community and Public Safety • Page 4
Prepared by: Clarissa Cervantes, Councilmember Ward 2
Approved by: Clarissa Cervantes, Councilmember Ward 2
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Referred by:
Marisa Censu
Clarissa Cervantes
Councilmember Ward 2
Attachments:
1. HRC Resolution
2. Revised Resolution
3. Revised version with redlines and amendments highlighted.
4. Proposed language for the Legal Justice Fund
5. Article