To: County of Sonoma Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Christina Rivera, (707) 565-2431
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Restricting use of County-controlled property
End
Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Provide direction to staff regarding the development of a policy prohibiting specific enforcement activities on County-controlled properties.
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Executive Summary:
The County provides critical safety net and other services such as voting. It is imperative that community members feel safe and supported when accessing public services.
This item requests Board consideration to direct staff to develop a policy that explicitly prohibits immigration enforcement activities on County-controlled properties.
Discussion:
Our County thrives economically, socially, and culturally because of the essential contributions of our immigrant communities. In recognition of the heightened federal immigration enforcement activity and the urgent concerns expressed by trusted community and faith-based leaders, the Board of Supervisors acted swiftly on January 10, 2025, issuing a resolution of support for our immigrant communities and on August 12, 2025, established the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc Committee.
The Ad Hoc - comprised of Chair Hopkins and Vice Chair Hermosillo - was charged with immediately engaging community partners, evaluating County policies, and identifying actionable steps within the Board’s legal authority to strengthen support for immigrant residents. While community leaders have repeatedly urged the Board to adopt a sanctuary ordinance, the Board has communicated that it will not move forward with that approach. In the absence of that path, the Ad Hoc has focused on pragmatic, collaborative solutions developed alongside advocates to provide meaningful and legally sound protection and support.
Since formation, the Ad Hoc has convened five times, most recently on October 29, 2025, with meetings centered on immediate protection measures, community partnership, and transparency. Actions to date include:
1. Establishing revised protocols and directing development of employee training to ensure clarity and consistency in interactions involving federal immigration activity.
2. On September 23, 2025, reviewing the proposed County ordinance implementing California’s SB 627 (“No Secret Police Act”) ahead of the January 1, 2026, effective date, accelerating compliance and supporting community trust in law enforcement transparency. https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB627/id/3270465#:~:text=185.5.,covering%20or%20face%2Dshielding%20item <https://legiscan.com/CA/text/SB627/id/3270465>
3. Reviewing and discussing the Sanctuary Coalition’s proposed non-collaboration ordinance to identify shared goals and advance feasible actions within County legal authority.
4. Incorporating community-recommended changes to County guidance to ensure immigrant residents have clear and immediate access to information on rights and services in the event of immigration operations. Resources can be found at: <https://sonomacounty.gov/administrative-support-and-fiscal-services/county-administrators-office/projects/support-for-immigrant-communities>
Consistent with the Ad Hoc’s charge to advance concrete measures that support immigrant residents, this item presents Supervisors Hermosillo’s and Hopkins’ recommendation to prohibit the use of County-controlled property for immigration enforcement purposes, including staging, surveillance, raids, or related operations.
Policy development will observe community priorities while also aligning with the County’s legal responsibilities and operational scope. The proposed policy will not apply to the independently elected Sheriff and will not be construed to impact how the Sheriff’s Office conducts operations based on its policies and procedures.
Strategic Plan:
This item directly supports the County’s Five-year Strategic Plan and is aligned with the following pillar, goal, and objective.
Pillar: Healthy and Safe Communities
Goal: Goal 1: Expand integrated system of care to address gaps in services to the County’s most vulnerable.
Objective: Objective 2: Identify gaps in the Safety Net system of services and identify areas where departments can address those gaps directly and seek guidance from the Board when additional resources and/or policy direction is needed.
Racial Equity:
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
9/23/25 - Board reviewed draft ordinance towards implementation of SB 627 - <https://sonoma-county.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7662770&GUID=A2C7F5C5-B2D9-43D4-8D3D-D7B67FD2BAD4>
Fiscal Summary
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Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The policy development will require capacity from County Counsel for review and County staff assigned to the Immigrant Support Ad-Hoc. This capacity is being absorbed within available budgeted resources.
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Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
None
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None