To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Executive’s Office, Office of Equity
Staff Name and Phone Number: Jennifer Solito, 565-4592 and Melissa Valle 565-8631
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Approve the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc Charter
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
A) Review and approve the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc Committee’s Charter.
B) Review draft urgency ordinance Prohibiting Law Enforcement Officers From Concealing Their Identity and Requiring Them to Present Identification and Agency-Identifying Insignia When Conducting Operations in the Unincorporated Areas of Sonoma County.
C) Provide direction to staff to return to the Board at a future meeting with a final draft of the urgency ordinance once the County completes the meet and confer process with affected labor unions.
D) Direct Human Resources staff to begin the meet and confer process to implement SB 627 once the Governor signs the bill
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Executive Summary:
The Board of Supervisors established the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc committee on August 12, 2025, to actively engage with community stakeholders to discuss and develop measures to be considered by the full Board of Supervisors in support of immigrant communities as a result of the heightened enforcement activities conducted by the federal Department of Homeland Security, Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc is comprised of Chair Hopkins and Vice Chair Hermosillo. This item requests approval of the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc charter.
Discussion:
On August 12, 2025, the Board of Supervisors established the Supporting Immigrant Communities Ad Hoc committee to actively engage with community stakeholders to discuss and develop measures to be considered by the full Board of Supervisors in support of immigrant communities. The Ad Hoc is responsive to community advocacy efforts calling for local protective action in light of the heightened ICE enforcement activities across the Country, including Sonoma County.
The Ad Hoc recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt the draft charter (Attachment A) to confirm the expectations for the scope of work for this Ad Hoc committee. As outlined in the draft charter, the Ad Hoc will focus on:
• Identifying specific challenges faced by immigrant communities.
• Gathering and analyzing data on the impact of ICE enforcement in Sonoma County.
• Developing strategies and recommendations for the Board of Supervisors to adopt policies that protect and empower immigrant residents, which may include seeking full-Board action by way of ordinance.
• Fostering collaboration between local government, community organizations, and legal entities to ensure comprehensive support for affected individuals and families.
While this item did not require a Racial Equity Analysis, research shows the profound impact that deportation and anti-immigrant threats have on immigrant and mixed-status families, especially on children. According to the California Budget and Policy Center, children living in communities targeted by immigration enforcement experience significant harm to their educational and health outcomes. The deportation of a primary earner can result in severe financial instability, which can lead to housing insecurity, eviction, or even homelessness. Additionally, children whose parents are detained or deported face an increased risk of entering the child welfare system due to the sudden loss of caregivers and income, negatively impacting their well-being and mental health. The constant threat of family separation and financial instability imposes hardships on entire households. Families may avoid receiving public services, reporting crimes, and seeking employment opportunities out of fear for their status.
The Migration Policy Institute estimates that 29,000 undocumented immigrants reside in Sonoma County.
To date, the Ad Hoc has met twice, on August 18 and August 29, 2025. One of the approaches the Ad Hoc is recommending to provide support to our immigrant communities is to enact an urgency ordinance prohibiting law enforcement officers from concealing their identity and requiring them to present identification and agency-identifying insignia when conducting operations in the unincorporated areas of Sonoma County. While the Ad Hoc is aware that the California Legislature has passed SB 627 imposing such a prohibition statewide, that measure was not adopted on an urgency basis and will not take effect until January 1, 2026, if it is signed by the Governor. The absence of legislation to address the increased danger created by these the aggressive tactics being employed by the current administration poses a serios threat to the health, safety, and welfare of all Sonoma residents. The Ad Hoc has included a copy of a draft urgency ordinance which has been circulated by Human Resources to the appropriate labor unions to begin the meet and confer process. As that process proceeds, the ordinance may change slightly, but the Ad Hoc recommends this Board direct staff to bring back a final draft of the urgency ordinance once the County completes the meet & confer process with affected labor groups. Additionally, the Ad Hoc recommends that the Board direct Human Resources to commence the meet and confer process for SB 627 as soon as the Governor signs the bill into law.
Was this item identified as an opportunity to apply the Racial Equity Toolkit?
No
Prior Board Actions:
January 10, 2025, the Board of Supervisors approved Resolution 25-0015, <https://onbaseprodext.sonoma-county.org/PublicAccess-BOSEP5/services/document-search/index.html> upholding the civil rights, dignity, health and safety of our immigrant population and all Sonoma County residents.
August 12, 2025, the Board of Supervisors established a new Ad Hoc committee to engage with stakeholder communities to develop measures for the Board of Supervisors to consider in support of immigrant communities in Sonoma County amid increase ICE enforcement.
Fiscal Summary
|
Expenditures |
FY25-26 Adopted |
FY26-27 Projected |
FY27-28 Projected |
|
Budgeted Expenses |
$64,009 |
|
|
|
Additional Appropriation Requested |
|
|
|
|
Total Expenditures |
$64,099 |
|
|
|
Funding Sources |
|
|
|
|
General Fund/WA GF |
$64,099 |
|
|
|
State/Federal |
|
|
|
|
Fees/Other |
|
|
|
|
Use of Fund Balance |
|
|
|
|
General Fund Contingencies |
|
|
|
|
Total Sources |
$64,099 |
|
|
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
The Ad Hoc is staffed by existing CEO and Office of Equity (OOE) staff and will also require various translation services, both for in-person meetings and document translation. Staffing costs are estimated and shown above, and will be absorbed through current staff costs. Costs for translation services are not budgeted and will utilize anticipated salary savings. Staff will return to the Board to request General Fund contingency support should costs exceed the available budget.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
The County Administrator’s Office will lead this project with support from the Office of Equity. If the Board of Supervisors adopts the charter, staff will come back to the Board with a work plan, including the anticipated level of staff support necessary to implement the plan.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Draft Charter
Draft Urgency Ordinance
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None