San Jose, California has taken a bold step in its efforts to protect its immigrant communities by banning U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from using the city's properties, including garages, parking lots, community centers, and libraries.
The decision was met with unanimous approval from the San Jose City Council, who deemed it necessary to send a message that city property exists to serve residents, not to facilitate federal actions that undermine community trust or public safety. The policy aims to prevent ICE agents from using city properties as staging areas or operational bases, thereby reducing the risk of harassment and intimidation of local residents.
The move comes on the heels of Santa Clara County's similar policy, which has sparked a national movement to freeze ICE agents out of certain areas. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's executive order in October laid out rules for cities to follow, but San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz emphasized that this policy is not intended to impede federal officials from carrying out their duties under the law.
The city plans to post signs stating prohibited use at all locations and install gates where necessary. City employees who become aware of ICE activity will be required to report it to their supervisors. The city has established safe site protocols in case of immigration enforcement activities taking place at city properties, but is now looking to develop additional procedures to ensure enforcement.
The policy comes after a series of incidents involving ICE agents, including the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good last week. Over 1,000 protests took place across the country over the weekend in response to the violence and calls for reform.
San Jose has a long history of protecting its immigrant communities, with policies implemented last year such as prohibiting law enforcement from wearing masks and investing $1 million to bolster immigrant defense organizations. The city's population is comprised of nearly 41% immigrants, making it clear that this policy affects not just one community but multiple groups.
"We came together as friends and neighbors to address this issue," said District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan. "Because (it affects) not only the Hispanic community, it affects the Asian community immensely as well. When we unite and organize, we can make a difference."
The city's move is seen as a bold statement of defiance against federal immigration policies that have been widely criticized for their impact on local communities. As the debate over ICE continues to rage across the country, San Jose's decision serves as a reminder that cities have a critical role in protecting their residents and promoting public safety.
The decision was met with unanimous approval from the San Jose City Council, who deemed it necessary to send a message that city property exists to serve residents, not to facilitate federal actions that undermine community trust or public safety. The policy aims to prevent ICE agents from using city properties as staging areas or operational bases, thereby reducing the risk of harassment and intimidation of local residents.
The move comes on the heels of Santa Clara County's similar policy, which has sparked a national movement to freeze ICE agents out of certain areas. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson's executive order in October laid out rules for cities to follow, but San Jose Councilmember Peter Ortiz emphasized that this policy is not intended to impede federal officials from carrying out their duties under the law.
The city plans to post signs stating prohibited use at all locations and install gates where necessary. City employees who become aware of ICE activity will be required to report it to their supervisors. The city has established safe site protocols in case of immigration enforcement activities taking place at city properties, but is now looking to develop additional procedures to ensure enforcement.
The policy comes after a series of incidents involving ICE agents, including the fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good last week. Over 1,000 protests took place across the country over the weekend in response to the violence and calls for reform.
San Jose has a long history of protecting its immigrant communities, with policies implemented last year such as prohibiting law enforcement from wearing masks and investing $1 million to bolster immigrant defense organizations. The city's population is comprised of nearly 41% immigrants, making it clear that this policy affects not just one community but multiple groups.
"We came together as friends and neighbors to address this issue," said District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan. "Because (it affects) not only the Hispanic community, it affects the Asian community immensely as well. When we unite and organize, we can make a difference."
The city's move is seen as a bold statement of defiance against federal immigration policies that have been widely criticized for their impact on local communities. As the debate over ICE continues to rage across the country, San Jose's decision serves as a reminder that cities have a critical role in protecting their residents and promoting public safety.
san jose is takin it 2 da next lvl by banin ice agents from usin their propertis 
its like, super impotint 2 show dat city property iz 4 da people not 4 da gov 
and its not jus 1 community gettin affected cuz da hispanic community has always benn at da forefront of dis fight 
and now its likin da asian community is finally gettin some lovin 
too btw i love dat they r installin gates and postin signs everywhere 
itz like, dey r sayin "hey we got u" 
I think it's kinda ironic that this whole thing is happening now that there are so many high-profile protests against ICE. Like, people are literally taking to the streets to make their voices heard about these issues, but at the same time, some cities are still trying to limit the presence of ICE agents on their property. It feels like we're just reacting to react, rather than actually having a thoughtful conversation about how to address these problems.
This feels like a PR stunt rather than an actual attempt to address the systemic issues that are driving people to protest in the first place.
. I mean, ICE has a job to do, right? They've gotta enforce the law and protect national security or whatever 
. And if that means they're gonna have to use city property sometimes, then so be it 
. But at the same time, cities like San Jose are trying to make their own rules and create a safe space for all residents, regardless of immigration status.
. No one's really winning or losing in the end – everyone's just kind of stuck in this limbo where they're all worried about what might happen next 
. Anyway, I hope San Jose's move does bring some peace and calm to its immigrant communities 
.
... I mean, what's next? They're already making life hard for our immigrants with all the raids and deportations... it's time for some cities to take a stand against these kinds of policies. San Jose is leading the way by protecting their community centers, libraries, and garages from being used as staging areas for immigration enforcement. It's about sending a message that city property belongs to the people, not the federal government 
I'm thinking, you know? This new policy by San Jose is kinda cool... but also kinda necessary 
. As long as the city's got its back, immigrants shouldn't have to worry about being harassed or intimidated on their own turf 
.
. It takes courage to stand up against the system, especially when it's a federal issue 
.
. It's like we're all starting to wake up and realize that immigration enforcement affects everyone 
. I just hope it doesn't get too heated 
.
this is so cool that san jose is taking a stand against ice 
it's not just about sending a message, but also about actually putting measures in place to prevent harassment and intimidation 
i'm loving how the city council is acknowledging the impact on multiple communities, including the asian community 
. I mean, what would you do if you saw someone in a bad suit trying to intimidate your family members? You'd feel really uncomfortable, right? 
.
65% of Americans support banning federal agents from using city properties 
, with 40% involving civil rights violations 
. Cities like Chicago and San Jose are leading the way, with 75% of cities having taken similar action to prevent federal agents from using city properties 
. This trend could shift the national conversation around immigration policies 
.
So yeah, I'm all for San Jose taking a bold step to protect its immigrant communities... just hope it doesn't create more drama 
. Cities like Santa Clara County and Chicago are leading the way on this issue, and it's awesome that San Jose is joining the charge 
.
. We need cities to take a stand against these policies and make spaces safe for everyone, regardless of their status 
can u imagine if it was the other way around like what if there were armed police officers patrolling our community? no thanks 
. And can we talk about how many lives are being saved because of this policy? Renee Good's family deserves justice and this is just the beginning 
...San Jose just sent a clear message that city property ain't no federal playground