City Council Staff Report Page 1 of 3 May 26, 2026
Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 6.2
DATE: May 26, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
FROM: Kris Kokotaylo, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Adopt a Resolution of the City Council of the City of Union City Reaffirming and Proclaiming the City of Union City as a Compassionate City
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the May 12, 2026 meeting of the City Council, the City Council considered an ordinance to prohibit civil immigration enforcement operations on City-owned and City-controlled properties. Staff prepared a draft ordinance for consideration and presented several examples of actions taken in neighboring jurisdictions, including the City of Pinole, City of South San Francisco, and County of Alameda. Copies of these examples are attached to this report.
Following consideration and deliberation, the City Council voted 3-2 to not proceed with the introduction of the proposed ordinance and for staff to return with a resolution reaffirming and proclaiming Union City as a compassionate city and including the words “or City properties” to locations that the City strongly urges ICE not to engage in enforcement activities. The proposed resolution is attached for Council consideration.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
This item is not directly related to the Strategic Plan.
BACKGROUND
Over the past year, there has been growing concern about immigration enforcement activities in the Bay Area. In response to potential local impacts of national immigration enforcement activities, the Legislation and Policy Committee (the “Committee”) requested that staff present options to limit civil immigration enforcement on City property and ultimately directed staff to present an ordinance prohibiting civil immigration enforcement operations on City-owned and City-controlled properties.
Staff presented the proposed ordinance to the City Council on May 12, 2026. The City Council voted 3-2 to not proceed with the introduction of the proposed ordinance and for staff to return with a resolution reaffirming and proclaiming Union City as a compassionate Agenda Item No. 6.2
City Council Staff Report Page 2 of 3 May 26, 2026
city and including the words “or City properties” to locations that the City strongly urges ICE not to engage in enforcement activities.
DISCUSSION
In May 2017, in response to community concerns, the City Council adopted a resolution declaring the City of Union City a Compassionate City (the “Compassionate City Resolution”). The purpose of the Compassionate City Resolution was to demonstrate Union City's commitment to enhancing its cultural fabric by supporting and celebrating its multi-ethnic diversity, including newcomers and immigrants. The Compassionate City Resolution also affirmed that the City would not actively enforce federal immigration laws.
A copy of the Compassionate City Resolution is attached to this report.
Following the City Council's adoption of the Compassionate City Resolution, Governor Brown signed SB 54, also known as the “Values Act,” into law. Under the Values Act, the City of Union City, as well as all law enforcement agencies in the State, are prohibited from engaging in nearly all immigration related activities. This includes utilizing law enforcement resources (including investigating, interrogating, detaining or arresting persons) for immigration enforcement purposes, inquiring into an individual’s immigration status or detaining an individual based on a hold request from immigration authorities, providing immigration authorities with information regarding an individual’s release date unless such information is publicly available, and making or participating in arrests based on civil immigration warrants or transferring an individual to immigration authorities unless authorized by judicial warrant upon a finding of probable cause by a judge or if the individual has been convicted of certain crimes.
Adopting a resolution reaffirming Union City as a Compassionate City would further the City’s commitment to enhancing its cultural fabric by supporting and celebrating its multiethnic diversity, which is critical to the City’s overall prosperity. The proposed resolution includes the words “or City properties” in locations that the City strongly urges ICE not to engage in enforcement activities.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no direct impact associated with adopting the proposed resolution.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council consider adopting a resolution reaffirming Union City as a Compassionate City.
Attachments
1. Draft Resolution
2. Union City Resolution No. 5069-17 – Compassionate City Resolution
3. City of South San Francisco Resolution
4. Alameda County Resolution
5. City of Pinole Ordinance
Agenda Item No. 6.2
City Council Staff Report Page 3 of 3 May 26, 2026
Prepared by: Juliet Vaughn, Associate
Submitted by: Kristopher Kokotaylo, City Attorney