Stockton leaders are considering a new ordinance concerning the use of city property and resources for federal immigration enforcement, as well as expanded oversight of local police interactions with federal agents.
The two proposals from District 4 Councilmember Mario Enríquez were discussed Monday during a Stockton City Council Legislation and Environmental Committee meeting amid increased federal immigration enforcement activity in Stockton. Residents have reported sightings of federal agents and enforcement activity in neighborhoods across the city, and college officials confirmed their presence at San Joaquin Delta College last week.
The proposed ordinance would prohibit federal civil immigration enforcement activities from using city-owned or city-controlled property as staging areas, processing sites, detention facilities or operational bases, except when required by law.
Enríquez, the committee’s chair, also outlined a broader immigration response plan that would establish procedures for city employees, expand public resources and increase transparency about federal immigration enforcement activity.
“We want to be proactive, not reactive,” Enríquez said.
The proposals are part of a legislative package that would also include changes to the city’s existing Compassionate City resolution and a separate policy governing access to automated license plate reader data. Committee members directed city staff to revise the proposals before bringing them back to the full City Council.
Proposed restrictions on city property and resources
Enriquez’s proposed ordinance would establish rules governing the use of city facilities, personnel, equipment and other municipal resources in connection with federal civil immigration enforcement.
Under the proposal, city-owned or city-controlled property could not be used for federal civil immigration enforcement activities, except when required by law. This would cover staging areas, processing or detention locations, interview sites and command posts. Federal agents could still enter areas lawfully open to the public.
Requests for access to nonpublic city property would be referred to a supervisor and the City Attorney’s Office whenever possible. Employees could not grant access for federal civil immigration enforcement purposes unless authorized by a valid judicial warrant or court order, required by law or necessary to respond to an imminent threat to life or physical safety.
The ordinance also would prohibit city employees, volunteers and contractors from knowingly using municipal resources to support specified immigration enforcement activities, including investigating someone solely to determine their immigration status or detaining or transporting someone solely for civil immigration enforcement.
City departments could not collect or maintain citizenship or immigration-status information except for legally required or other authorized municipal purposes. Employees generally could not voluntarily disclose nonpublic personal information primarily to facilitate civil immigration enforcement, subject to legal requirements and exceptions under the California Public Records Act.
The proposal would require city services, programs, public meetings and facilities open to the public to remain accessible without discrimination based on actual or perceived citizenship or immigration status, except when eligibility requirements are established by law. It would preserve exceptions for criminal investigations involving conduct independent of immigration status and emergency assistance.
The proposal also would not authorize city employees to physically interfere with federal officers acting under lawful authority. The city manager, in consultation with the city attorney, would develop procedures for handling federal requests, documenting incidents and training affected employees. The city manager also would provide periodic implementation reports to the City Council.
Enríquez seeks additional police oversight
Enríquez also proposed several additional provisions aimed at strengthening oversight of local police interactions with federal immigration agents.
He wants the Stockton Police Department to update its policies governing interactions with federal civil immigration enforcement agents “to the fullest extent of state law” and require officers to use body-worn cameras when present at federal enforcement scenes.
He also called for quarterly public reports detailing requests for access to city property, whether access was granted and the legal basis for each request.
Other proposed additions include extending restrictions to properties the city leases and operates, requiring immigration-related provisions in city contracts and leases, and establishing disciplinary consequences for city employees who violate the policies.
Enríquez also requested deadlines for adopting administrative procedures and making them publicly available.
Deputy City Manager Christine Tien agreed to incorporate the requested changes into the draft.
A broader immigration response plan
Separate from the proposed ordinance, Enríquez outlined a broader plan to guide the city’s response to federal immigration enforcement activity.
Enríquez said he wants to revisit and strengthen the city’s Compassionate City resolution, unanimously approved Jan. 13, which reaffirms the city’s commitment to protecting all residents and encourages them to access city services and report crimes without fear, regardless of immigration status.
He called for expanding the city’s immigration resources webpage to include information about residents’ rights, city policies, legal assistance and community organizations. The page would explain how residents can report federal immigration enforcement activity and access assistance, with information available in multiple languages and specific contact information for organizations.
The plan also would include a proposed resolution governing access to the city’s Flock automated license plate reader data. Enríquez said the policy, which he drafted in April, would establish additional safeguards over who can access the data and for what purposes.
Another component would require detailed notifications when federal immigration agents contact city departments, including requests for police assistance. Enríquez said the notifications should explain who contacted the department, why officers were called, how long they were at the scene and what they did.
Enríquez also proposed designating a lead contact in the city manager’s office and establishing department-specific procedures for employees who encounter federal agents. Those procedures would include training and written guidance for city workers, documentation of federal requests and notification of city leadership about those interactions.
He also wants the city to explore a centralized hotline in coordination with community organizations to help residents report immigration enforcement activity and access assistance.
District 3 Councilmember Michael Blower expressed support for the proposed approach, saying the city should focus its employees and resources on local responsibilities rather than federal immigration enforcement.
“I agree that it is not the city’s job to enforce federal policy, so I don’t have any problem with this,” Blower said. “It just seems like common sense.”
Residents describe fear, concerns over ICE activity
The meeting began nearly 40 minutes late because of a lack of a quorum, with Councilmembers Michele Padilla of District 1 and Jason Lee of District 6 absent. Blower attended in their place to allow the group to establish quorum and hold the meeting.
Padilla told Stocktonia that she missed the meeting due to a legal commitment. Lee separately told us that he was attending Ebony Magazine’s Ebony Power 100 event, where he was recognized for his work in entertainment and politics.
Despite the delay, several residents spoke during the meeting about the effects of federal immigration enforcement on Stockton families.
David Espinoza said he feels increasingly afraid while riding San Joaquin Regional Transit District buses because he worries federal immigration agents may be using undercover vehicles.
“Even though I was born here, I’m still scared of them because they’re just rallying up everyone, even if you’re born here or not,” he said. “They’re still taking everybody just because of the color of our skin.”
Another resident, Pandora Crowder, said families in the Conway Homes neighborhood have become so fearful that some parents are reluctant to send their children to school.
She said community members have organized informal transportation arrangements to help children get to class because some parents are afraid to take them to school.
“I will pick them up because their parents are too scared,” Crowder said. “We need to figure out what we’re doing and what we’re doing fast because what’s happening is absolutely horrific. The treatment is absolutely horrific, but our children are losing education.”
Other speakers raised concerns about Stockton police interactions with federal agents near the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility at 603 San Juan Ave.
Marianne Estrada, a legal observer and volunteer at the food pantry that operates at the federal immigration facility, said she felt city resources were being used to support ICE.
“There has not been a weekend that I haven’t seen Stockton PD come out and give personal escorts to ICE agents, whether they’re in federal vehicles or in their personal vehicles,” she said.
Estrada also described an incident last Monday in which protesters said federal agents pushed them and struck them with pepper balls. When protesters approached local officers, she said, they were told police were responding based on information provided by federal agents.
“It did not help us feel safe,” Estrada said. “It felt like our First Amendment rights to free speech were being trampled on.”
The proposals are expected to return to the full City Council on Dec. 8 for consideration after staff incorporates the requested revisions.