Discussion of a Potential
Ordinance Designating Stockton
as a Compassionate City
Council Legislation / Environmental Committee
September 15, 2025
1 Agenda
• Background
• California Senate Bill 54
• Sanctuary Cities
• City of Sacramento
• City of Los Angeles
• Compassionate City
• Union City, CA
• Pros / Cons
• Next Steps
2 Background
• Legislation/Environmental Committee
◦ Meeting on August 25, 2025
• Compliance with SB 54
• City of Stockton Stance
◦ Alignment with State law, Police
◦ Codify / “On the books”
◦ Best practice model / Ordinance vs Resolution
3 Senate Bill 54 – California Values Act
• Purpose of SB 54
◦ Protect Immigrant Communities
◦ Enhance Access to Services
◦ Promote Public Safety
• Key Provisions of SB 54
◦ Limits on Law Enforcement Cooperation
◦ Restrictions on Information Sharing
◦ No Holds or Extra Jail Time
◦ Prohibitions on Task Forces
◦ Impact on Institutions
4 From The Point, A Biola magazine for
students, by students (12/13/2017)
Sanctuary City Defined
5 What is a Sanctuary City?
• Limits/denies cooperation
with federal government in
enforcing immigration laws
• Does not use local resources
for immigration enforcement
• Does not ask for immigration
status of individuals
encountered
What are Objectives?
• To reduce fear of individuals
who illegally immigrated
regarding:
• Deportation
• Family separation
• Crime reporting
• Access to health and social
services
• School enrollment
Sacramento: Sanctuary City
1985
Self-designated Sanctuary City since
1985
• Police officers prohibited from
asking for immigration status or
assisting in immigration
enforcement
2017
Sanctuary City Ordinance #2017-0158
adopted in May 2017 clarifies:
• No City official, employee or agent, while in
the course and scope of employment, shall
use City funds or resources to enforce
federal civil immigration law.
• Sacramento Police Department dedicated
to addressing crime, supporting victims and
building trust, regardless of immigration
status.
6 Sacramento:
Sanctuary
City
FAQs
7 Los Angeles: Sanctuary City
2017
Resolution passed in 2017
• Declares Los Angeles “City of
Sanctuary”
• No sanctuary policies codified into
municipal law. 2024
Ordinance #188441 adopted in 2024:
• Permanently enshrines sanctuary policies
into municipal law.
• Prohibits use of City resources to enforce
federal immigration laws or cooperate with
federal authorities for enforcement.
• Prohibits direct and indirect data sharing
with federal immigration authorities.
8 Compassionate City
Immigration Policy Defined
9 What Is Compassionate City
Immigration Policy?
• Local government commitment to
treat all residents equally:
• Provide access to city services
regardless of immigration status
• Refrain from assisting federal
immigration enforcement
• Does not ask about immigration
status for services
• Does not hold individuals for civil
immigration reasons without
judicial reason/probably cause
What are Objectives?
• Foster trust and engagement with
the city
• Encourage crime reporting
• Protect the community from fear of
discrimination
Union City: Compassionate City
• Human Relations Commission Outreach
◦ Community shares commitment to core values
of safety, tolerance and caring.
◦ Initiative designed to strengthen goals of
inclusiveness and compassion.
• Designated as Compassionate City in 2017
◦ City has no legal authority to partner with
federal authorities to enforce federal civil
immigration law.
◦ City encourages residents to engage with staff,
freely access services and be free of fear in
reporting crime.
• Recognized as best practice model on
website of US Conference of Mayors.
10 Possible Pros / Cons
11 PROS
Encourage cooperation with law
enforcement in crime reporting
Protect vulnerable people, enable
access to services without fear
Prevent family separation
Reduce local costs
Strengthen economy
CONS
Create legal/constitutional conflict,
legal liability
Raise public safety concerns,
safe harbor for criminals
Increase strain on local resources
Create confusion and misinformation
Threaten federal funding
Next Steps
Staff seeks input and/or direction from the Committee on next steps. 12 “Immigrants are a vital part of our community. The
City of Monterey Park recognizes the humanity of
all individuals who call our community home and is
committed to fostering an environment where
everyone feels valued, safe, and respected,
regardless of immigration status.”