Legislation and Policy Committee Staff Report Page 1 of 2 April 20, 2026 Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 5.2
DATE: April 20, 2026
TO: Members of the Legislation and Policy Committee
FROM: Kristopher Kokotaylo, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Discussion Regarding Actions by Other Agencies to Prevent Federal Use of City Property and Direction Regarding Same
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Attorney’s Office has prepared information regarding ordinances and resolutions in jurisdictions addressing the use of City-owned and controlled facilities and properties by federal agents for civil immigration enforcement. Staff recommends that the Legislation and Policy Committee (the “Committee”) review the information and provide direction.
BACKGROUND
The Committee previously requested a future agenda item on ordinances and policies that prohibit the operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) and other agencies’ civil immigration enforcement on city-owned properties or facilities (“ICE-free zones”). The City Attorney’s Office has compiled information regarding approaches taken by other jurisdictions. The information is a sample of approaches and does not cover every approach taken by every jurisdiction.
DISCUSSION
City of Pinole
On December 16, 2025, the Pinole City Council adopted an ordinance establishing ICEfree zones. The ordinance prohibits the voluntary use of City-owned or City-controlled property for civil immigration enforcement staging, processing, surveillance, or operational purposes unless required by a valid judicial warrant or court order.
Additionally, the ordinance prohibits the use of City property for temporarily detaining individuals for civil immigration purposes.
The ordinance does not define staging or processing, but defines “surveillance” as “observing, recording, monitoring, or collecting information about individuals for civil immigration enforcement purposes.” The ordinance does not restrict federal agents from entering areas open to the general public and preserves the City’s obligation to comply Agenda Item No. 5.2
Legislation and Policy Committee Staff Report Page 2 of 2 April 20, 2026 with all lawful court orders. For example, the ordinance would not prohibit federal agents from congregating in a public area, such as a park, unless for staging, processing, surveillance, or operational purposes – activities that would not generally be allowed for any agency. A copy of the ordinance is attached.
County of Alameda
On January 29, 2026, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors adopted a resolution establishing ICE-free zones, which prohibit County-owned and controlled properties from being used for staging, processing, or operations related to civil immigration enforcement. “Staging area” is defined as “an area used to assemble, mobilize, and deploy vehicles … for the purpose of carrying out civil immigration enforcement operations.” A “processing location” is defined as an area to identify and detain individuals for civil immigration enforcement, and an “operation base” is defined as an area used to plan or coordinate civil immigration enforcement operations. Similar to the Pinole ordinance, this resolution does not prohibit ICE agents from congregating or using public property or facilities, provided they are not staging or operating from that property. A copy of the resolution is attached.
City of South San Francisco
On February 4, 2026, the South San Francisco City Council adopted a resolution outlining that the City is committed to diversity and inclusion, expressing concern over recent Federal immigration enforcement actions and their impact on civil liberties; calling for accountability, transparency, and respect for due process; and clarifying existing laws and policies and the City’s response to immigration enforcement actions that do not comply with those laws and policies.
The resolution does not establish a new policy specific to civil immigration enforcement.
Instead, it addresses concerns with the current federal immigration enforcement efforts, identifies the City’s existing policies that would prohibit the use of City property for civil immigration efforts, and confirms how the City would respond to a violation. A copy of the resolution is attached.
As of this date, our office is not aware of any jurisdictions identified above, or any other jurisdictions in the Bay Area, taking action to enforce their resolutions or ordinances to address civil immigration enforcement operations.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council receive this report and provide direction.