San Francisco Creates 'ICE Free Zones'

The "ICE Free Zones Ordinance" was co-authored by Supervisors Chyanne Chen and Bilal Mahmood and builds on the city's long-standing sanctuary policies. It specifically prohibits any entity from conducting activities on public property that disrupt city services and clarifies that assisting federal immigration law enforcement is not a city purpose. This gives the City Attorney the authority to sue any group that engages in unauthorized use of public property for such actions. San Francisco's history as a sanctuary city dates back to 1989, when it passed the "City and County of Refuge" Ordinance. That law generally forbids city employees from using municipal funds or resources to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with federal immigration law enforcement, unless required by state or federal law. Over the years, the city has added more protections. In 2013, the "Due Process for All" Ordinance was passed to limit when law enforcement can give ICE advance notice of an individual's release from jail. The city also prohibits cooperation with ICE detainer requests, often referred to as "ICE holds." This latest ordinance is not happening in isolation. Other Bay Area jurisdictions, including Richmond, San Jose, Oakland, and Santa Clara and Alameda counties, have passed similar "ICE-free zone" laws. The move is seen as a coordinated regional effort to push back against aggressive federal immigration enforcement. The core goal of the legislation is to ensure that all residents, regardless of their immigration status, feel safe accessing city services. Studies have shown that heightened immigration enforcement can lead to immigrant families participating less in public activities, and a fear that people will not report crimes or that children may miss school.