San Jose leaders are pushing to identify all city-owned properties and develop a plan to prohibit any federal immigration activity on them.
Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas and Rosemary Kamei introduced the policy during the Rules and Open Governance Committee on Wednesday, which was unanimously approved and will be considered by the full City Council at a later date. San Jose’s proposal comes on the heels of Santa Clara County passing a similar policy Tuesday to create an inventory of vacant lots, garages and other county-owned spaces federal authorities might use for immigration enforcement.
The county’s plan and San Jose’s proposal mark the start of a spreading, national movement to lock U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents out of certain areas after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an Oct. 6 executive order laying out similar rules.
“The city of San Jose was recently named the safest big city in the entire country,” Candelas said at the meeting. “This is undoubtedly because we are a welcoming city for all and we will not play a role in targeted attacks against any resident in our city.”
The proposal initially included language to develop a policy that ensures city-owned properties are only used for city purposes. But Vice Mayor Pam Foley said the language was too broad, as the city also rents its facilities to outside organizations. She suggested prohibiting the use of city facilities — including parking lots, garages and vacant land — from ICE activity. Councilmembers approved that change.
“I appreciate your intent, I just want to clarify the intent and make sure we’re all moving in the same direction,” Foley said at the meeting.
San Jose has implemented several policies this year to protect its immigrant communities, including prohibiting law enforcement from masking in the city and investing $1 million to bolster immigrant defense organizations such as Amigos de Guadalupe. San Jose’s population of nearly 1 million residents is made up of 41% immigrants.
Councilmembers have also directed staff to do an analysis of San Jose’s investments in order to divest from corporations with potential ties to ICE. City workers will report back in March.
After an ICE agent impersonating a police officer removed a man from the day worker center in September, San Jose leaders put together a plan to improve employer education and increase public safety. This includes working with sports venues including SAP Center, PayPal Park and Levi’s Stadium to enhance immigrant safety during the major sports events next year.
ICE has conducted large-scale operations in cities such as Los Angeles and San Francisco since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year. Santa Clara County has not seen the level of crackdown so far.
More than 100 federal agents are expected to arrive at the U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda Thursday to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection activities, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. This follows Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles, Portland, Washington D.C. and Memphis to assist ICE.
“ICE is coming… please make no mistake. This one-hour drive will not deter them,” Kimberly Woo, an organizer at Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, said at the meeting. “This policy is urgent. We need courageous leaders now to say no to ICE.”
Ortiz said city officials are still preparing for the possibility of mass enforcement actions coming to San Jose, and is not ruling out raids during the Super Bowl or World Cup.
“We are already hearing claims about the Super Bowl,” Ortiz told San José Spotlight. “So we know that eventually (President Donald Trump is) going to target our city. What are we going to do in the meantime in preparation for that? That’s why I’ve introduced policies.”
Ortiz has taken the lead on bringing six ICE-related proposals to the dais this year. His District 5 in East San Jose has a large population of Latino residents.
“If it’s not being made by the council, it’s not going to get done,” Ortiz said. “I have been pressing that issue, and I think the community sees that. And it’s not (just) me, we’re doing this in partnership. We’re making the city put money where their mouth is.”
Contact Joyce Chu at [email protected] or @joyce_speaks on X.
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