RESOLUTION NO. ____________
RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ROSA URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO ENACT LEGISLATION ADDRESSING THE TRAINING, CONDUCT, TRANSPARENCY, AND ACCOUNTABILITY OF FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AGENTS OPERATING WITHIN LOCAL JURISDICTIONS WHEREAS, the City of Santa Rosa is committed to protecting the civil liberties and personal safety of all individuals within its jurisdiction, regardless of immigration status; and WHEREAS, public trust in law enforcement is essential to effective community safety, and that trust depends upon training, transparency, professionalism, accountability, and clear identification of law enforcement officers; and WHEREAS recent immigration enforcement efforts by federal law enforcement agents have eroded public trust in law enforcement officers which can lead to victims of violent crimes being fearful and reluctant to seek help and report crimes to our local police organizations, and this erosion of trust increases victimization of some of the most vulnerable members of our community; and WHEREAS, federal immigration enforcement actions conducted without clear identification of officers, adequate training, transparency, or accountability undermine public confidence, create fear in communities, and may impede cooperation with local law enforcement agencies; and WHEREAS, local law enforcement agencies in California are subject to rigorous training standards, oversight, use-of-force policies, accountability mechanisms, and transparency requirements, including those established by the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST); and WHEREAS, incidents involving significant injuries, and in some cases, in-custody deaths, or officer-involved shootings require independent and transparent investigations to maintain public trust and ensure accountability; and WHEREAS, the use of body worn cameras by law enforcement has been demonstrated to improve accountability, protect both officers and the public, and provide objective documentation of encounters; and WHEREAS, anonymous or masked enforcement actions and the use of misleading identifiers such as the word “Police” on uniforms by federal immigration agents may cause confusion, misrepresentation of authority, and heightened community fear; and WHEREAS, California Senate Bill 627 reflects a strong public policy interest in prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing their identities while performing official duties; and WHEREAS, coordination and notification between federal and local law enforcement agencies is essential to ensure officer safety, prevent operational conflicts, and adherence to local laws, ordinances and local authority; and WHEREAS, constitutional accountability under 42 U.S.C. section 1983 is a foundational civil rights safeguard that allows individuals to seek civil redress for violations of their federal constitutional rights by government actors acting under color of law; and WHEREAS, immigration enforcement actions focused on broad, warrantless sweeps or “snatch and grab” operations raise significant constitutional and civil liberties concerns; and WHEREAS, the City of Santa Rosa urges reforms focused on the professionalism, conduct, training, and accountability of lawful federal immigration enforcement operations.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Santa Rosa respectfully urges the United States Congress to enact legislation that includes, at a minimum, the following requirements for federal immigration enforcement agencies and agents:
Clear and Accurate Identification – Require federal immigration enforcement agents to remove the word “Police” from uniforms and insignia, and to instead clearly and consistently identity themselves using accurate agency identifiers such as “ICE” or “ERO.” Independent Investigations – Authorize and allow local or state law enforcement agencies to conduct independent investigations into all in-custody injuries or deaths and all shooting incidents involving federal immigration enforcement agents operating within their jurisdiction.
Prohibition on Face Coverings – Prohibit federal immigration enforcement agents from wearing face masks or other coverings that conceal their identity while performing official duties, consistent with the principles and standards set forth in California Senate Bill 627.
Body-Worn Cameras – Require federal immigration enforcement agents to be equipped with, be trained in, and properly use body-worn cameras during all street level interactions, consistent with standards applicable to local law enforcement agencies, to ensure transparency and accountability.
Minimum Training Standards – Require federal immigration enforcement agents to complete, at a minimum, training equivalent to a basic POST certified law enforcement academy, including instruction in use of force, deescalation techniques, implicit bias, and cultural competency and sensitivity training, consistent with standards imposed on local law enforcement agencies.
Civil Rights Accountability – Amend federal law to explicitly hold federal immigration enforcement agents accountable under 42 U.S.C. section 1983, allowing individuals to bring civil actions in federal court for violations of federal constitutional rights committed by federal agents acting under color of law.
Local Notification – Require federal immigration enforcement agencies to notify local law enforcement agencies in advance of any planned immigration enforcement activity within the jurisdiction, to operate under the same legal standards applicable to local law enforcement when conducting such enforcement.
Lawful Warrant Based Enforcement – Require federal immigration enforcement agents to conduct only warrant based actions associated with specific federal criminal violations, and prohibit broad, warrantless immigration sweep operations.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Santa Rosa calls upon other local governments to join in advocating for these reforms to promote transparency, accountability, and public trust in all law enforcement activities.
IN COUNCIL DULY PASSED this _____ day of _________________, 2026.
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:
RECUSE:
ATTEST: _________________________ APPROVED: ______________________________ City Clerk Mayor
APPROVED AS TO FORM: ________________________
City Attorney
Reso. No. __________
Resolution Template.doc