In a move mirroring actions taken by other California localities, San Jose leaders are looking to keep ICE operations off city-owned properties. As detailed in a San José Spotlight article, Councilmembers Peter Ortiz, Domingo Candelas, and Rosemary Kamei spearheaded a unanimous decision by the Rules and Open Governance Committee yesterday to forward this initiative to the full City Council for further consideration.
The proposal to make city-owned properties off-limits to federal immigration activity follows an analogous measure adopted by Santa Clara County. According to an ABC7 News report, the County's plan passed on Tuesday, with similar rules initiated by Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson earlier in the month being a precursor to this regional effort. However, Vice Mayor Pam Foley suggested a nuanced approach, specifically prohibiting ICE activities in parking lots, garages, and vacant lots, rather than a broad ban that might affect the city's ability to rent facilities to outside organizations.
San Jose has a large immigrant population, nearly 41%, and the city has passed multiple protections for these residents throughout the year, such as a ban on law enforcement from masking, and significant investments to support immigrant defense organizations, as stated in the San José Spotlight. An incident involving an ICE agent posing as a police officer and removing a man from the day worker center has added urgency to the council's actions.
These initiatives, including the divestment from firms with ICE ties, are part of a larger, national trend to hinder ICE's operations in certain jurisdictions. ICE's expanded operations in urban centers under the Trump administration have alarmed city officials, with more than 100 federal agents expected to arrive at the U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda to support border protection activities, as mentioned in the San José Spotlight report. As organizer for Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network, Kimberly Woo said, per the San José Spotlight, "This policy is urgent. We need courageous leaders now to say no to ICE."
