San Francisco Establishes 'ICE Free Zones'
The San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a law prohibiting federal immigration enforcement on city property. The measure designates locations such as schools, hospitals, and libraries as 'ICE Free Zones' where agents cannot conduct operations.
This ordinance was co-authored by Supervisors Bilal Mahmood and Chyanne Chen, who argue that the presence of federal immigration agents on city property discourages residents from accessing public services. The new law empowers the San Francisco City Attorney to take legal action against any entity using city property in a way that disrupts municipal operations, specifically defining federal immigration enforcement as a non-permissible use. San Francisco's history as a sanctuary city dates back to 1985, when it first passed a symbolic "City of Refuge" resolution. In 1989, a formal Sanctuary City Ordinance was passed, prohibiting the use of city funds or resources to assist federal immigration enforcement unless required by law. This "ICE Free Zones" law is an extension of earlier policies. In 2013, the city passed the "Due Process for All" ordinance, which limited cooperation with ICE detainer requests for individuals released from local custody who did not have violent felony records. The ordinance follows similar "ICE-free zone" measures enacted by other Bay Area jurisdictions, including Richmond, San Jose, Oakland, and Santa Clara and Alameda counties. This regional approach aims to create a consistent barrier to federal immigration operations on public property. Proponents state the measure is necessary to maintain trust between immigrant communities and local government. According to research by the Urban Institute, heightened immigration enforcement has been shown to decrease participation in public activities among immigrant families. The establishment of these zones is part of a broader, ongoing conflict between so-called sanctuary jurisdictions and the federal government. Previous administrations have challenged sanctuary policies in court, attempting to withhold federal funding, though courts have often sided with the municipalities.
