photo credit: City of Santa Rosa
The City Hall Annex building in Santa Rosa.

The Santa Rosa City Council has unanimously passed an ordinance barring federal immigration agents from using city property for enforcement operations.

The ordinance states that Santa Rosa property is reserved for city business, meaning ICE cannot use city‑owned facilities to stage operations. For example, using a city-owned parking lot to stage an enforcement action.

Santa Rosa is not the only jurisdiction moving in this direction. Similar ordinances have been adopted across California.

"We know what happens when immigration enforcement shows up at or near public facilities," said San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood. "When fear drives people away, the city cannot do its job."

San Francisco created “ICE‑Free Zones” on city property in February, and Santa Cruz County advanced restrictions on county buildings and parking lots last month.

City administrators in Santa Rosa say they recommended the ordinance in response to rising fear of local government among immigrant communities. They say that fear has led to lower participation in public programs, reduced trust in law enforcement, and people avoiding community spaces.

City staff say they hope the ordinance will help rebuild trust between immigrant communities and the police department and encourage residents to report crime and interact with officers.

Legal experts have noted, however, that it is unclear whether such ordinances are enforceable.

Some local officials also worry about what could happen if ICE does appear on city property.

Santa Rosa Police Chief John Cregan is concerned the ordinance could pit local officers against federal agents, if they do enforce it.

"What if we do see an ICE agent on city property?," Cregan said. "What are our actions going to do? The safety concerns of putting armed police officers against armed federal agents, but the real threat of an officer impeding a federal officer and then getting federally indicted."

But Vice Mayor Jeff Okrepkie assured the police department, the city won’t put officers in harm's way.

"We’ve seen ICE kill unarmed individuals," said Okrepkie. "I am not willing to request any of our staff, especially our armed police officers to interfere in any way shape or form."

Even as Okrepkie acknowledged the ordinance will not be enforced, he said it remains important to show Santa Rosa’s immigrant communities that the city does not condone ICE’s tactics.