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Gov. Code § 54957.5 (SB 343):
Report regarding a resolution reaffirming the City of South San Francisco’s commitment to diversity and inclusion; expressing grave concern over recent federal immigration enforcement actions and their impact on civil liberties; calling for accountability, transparency, and respect for due process; and clarifying existing laws and policies and the City’s response to immigration enforcement actions that do not comply with those laws and policies. (Laura Snideman, City Manager, Sky Woodruff, City Attorney, and Megan Wooley-Ousdahl, Deputy City Manager)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the City Council consider a resolution reaffirming the City of South San Francisco’s commitment to diversity and inclusion; expressing grave concern over recent federal immigration enforcement actions and their impact on civil liberties; calling for accountability, transparency, and respect for due process; and clarifying existing laws and policies and the City’s response to immigration enforcement actions that do not comply with those laws and policies.
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BACKGROUND
During the January 28, 2026 meeting, the City Council condemned the actions taken by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis over recent weeks, including the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti and the human rights violations and actions perpetuated by ICE in Minneapolis and communities throughout the country.
The Council emphasized that South San Francisco is a welcoming, compassionate city that values all residents, regardless of their immigration status. During their comments, Councilmembers shared that South San Francisco is an inclusive city that shows up for its residents, a city where people are protected, respected, and treated with dignity.
During the meeting, staff was directed to agendize an item during the February 4, 2026 meeting for the Council to consider this issue and the City’s response.
DISCUSSION
City’s Policies and Initiatives
The City of South San Francisco has been proactive in adopting policies, sharing communications, and hosting workshops to support the rights of all residents, regardless of religion, ancestries, ethnicities, ability, sexual orientation, immigration status, or gender identity.
The following is an overview of the City’s recent initiatives to protect the constitutional rights and privileges of everyone in South San Francisco and to educate residents about their rights.
Policies
The City of South San Francisco has long maintained policies, reiterated in recent years, that South San Francisco is a welcoming city and one that prohibits the use of City resources for federal civil immigration enforcement to ensure residents feel safe using City services.
City Council Resolution 17-2017 (February 2017)
In February 2017, City Council passed Resolution 17-2017 formally declaring South San Francisco a safe and welcoming city for all residents, regardless of their immigration status.
City Council Resolution 25-543
In June 2025, City Council passed Resolution 25-543 which authorized a data-sharing agreement with other San Mateo County law enforcement agencies. The resolution states that while the City shares data for public safety purposes, it “prohibits data use for immigration enforcement.” The Council stated that this was to ensure compliance with the California Values Act (SB 54) and to maintain the City’s long-standing commitment to ensuring residents feel safe contacting public safety services.
Police Department Policies
The South San Francisco Police Department (SSFPD) has a long and proud history of building strong relationships of mutual respect and trust with community members, regardless of their immigration status. The SSFPD’s primary function is to enforce the laws of the state of California, and the department does not directly investigate or enforce immigration laws. Departmental policies state that SSFPD:
• Will not detain or arrest individuals for civil or administrative violations of federal immigration laws.
• Will not inquire about an individual’s immigration status or require anyone to produce immigration documents for the purpose of immigration enforcement.
• Will not refer cases involving violations of immigration laws to the District Attorney’s Office or any federal immigration agency for prosecution.
• Will not use city resources (like the CLETS database) for the purposes of federal civil immigration enforcement.
These policies are outlined in the SSFPD Policy Manual - Chapter 4: Patrol Operations, Policy 418: Immigration Violations <https://public.powerdms.com/SSFPD/tree/documents/1769028> which can be found on the ’Police Departments Transparency Portal <https://www.ssfca.gov/Departments/Police-Department/Transparency-Portal> (see Hyperlink References 1 and 2).
Communications
The City has proactively shared information both externally and internally about the constitutional rights of all South San Francisco community members. For example, in the ’February 3, 2025 Mayors Newsletter <https://www.ssfca.gov/News/Feb.-3-2025-Message-from-Mayor-Eddie>, a letter from then-Mayor Eddie Flores directly reaffirmed the City’s commitment to protecting the constitutional rights and privileges of South San Francisco residents (see Hyperlink Reference 3). The letter also discussed the Police Department’s policies (as discussed above), reminded readers of their constitutional rights, and shared the San Mateo County Rapid Response Hotline number and additional resources in English and Spanish. Throughout the year, the City continued to share information and links through the Mayor’s Newsletter and social media platforms. In October 2025, the City produced a video in English and Spanish of Mayor Flores speaking in support of and solidarity with all community members.
In February 2025, the City internally circulated an interoffice memo to all Department Heads and Managers, titled Guidance for Managers on Immigration Enforcement Activities. The Human Resources Department will be re-sharing the guidance shortly and will provide training during an upcoming Management Forum. City staff also posted signs at City facilities which state “Employees only beyond this point” to provide a legal buffer and clear physical boundary that prevents federal agents from entering non-public areas without a judicial warrant.
Red Cards Dissemination
The City has widely distributed “red cards” which are pocket-sized cards designed to help people, regardless of their immigration status, assert their constitutional rights during encounters with ICE agents. The red cards were created by the Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) and are a tool to help people stay calm and communicate their legal protections by solely showing the card, without having to speak.
The City has made red cards available and easily accessible at City facilities, including City Hall, City Hall Annex, Economic Advancement Center, Library | Parks and Recreation Center, and the Police Station. The City also included a copy of the red card, with a description, in the City’s South City Today printed newsletter which was mailed to each household in South San Francisco in November 2025; the card was printed on the edge so that it could be easily cut out. The City also made the red cards available to attendees at Know Your Rights workshops.
Partnerships & Workshops
The City has developed partnerships with San Mateo County, South San Francisco Unified School District, and non-profits to support residents and share resources such as immigrant resource guides, Rapid Response Network services, legal services, and family preparedness planning.
Know Your Rights Workshops
The City has partnered with a number of organizations to host “Know Your Rights” workshops to share information with residents and businesses about immigrants’ constitutional rights. This includes:
• On February 12, 2025, in partnership with JobTrain, the City hosted a community-focused workshop at the Economic Advancement Center.
• On August 19, 2025, in partnership with SIREN, the City hosted a business-focused workshop at La Nueva Perla, a local restaurant.
• On November 17, 2025, in partnership with SIREN, the City hosted a community-focused workshop at the Economic Advancement Center.
• On November 19, 2025, in partnership with SIREN, the City hosted a business-focused webinar.
• On December 4, 2025, in partnership with the SSF Conference Center, the City hosted a presentation during the Conference Center’s quarterly hoteliers luncheon.
The City will continue to uphold its values of being a welcoming, inclusive city by continuing to actively share information and resources with residents.
Bay Area Counties & Cities with Policies Pertaining to ICE
Over the past two months, some Bay Area cities and counties have adopted policies pertaining to ICE actions; Attachment 1 provides an overview of the key features of each. All policies ban ICE from using county or city-owned property.
Relevant Existing Laws and Policies and the City’s Response to Immigration Enforcement Actions That Do Not Comply with those Laws and Policies
Reporting about tactics by ICE and other federal agencies engaged in immigration enforcement have raised concerns from Council and the public. Although the City has a limited role in responding to enforcement of federal law, the ordinances, resolutions, and policies adopted or being considered by other local jurisdictions have identified several areas in which there are existing laws and policies that the City already enforces. The proposed resolution provides clarity regarding those laws and policies and how the City would respond based on existing practices and procedures if ICE or other federal agencies acted contrary to those laws or policies in South San Francisco.
First, the City exercises complete control over the use of its property. The City Manager is authorized to supervise the use of City property. Any use of City property must be expressly authorized by Council ordinance, City Manager policy or agreement, or other laws. Use of City property is prohibited if it is not expressly allowed. That includes use of City property by federal agencies. The City’s existing practice and policy for unauthorized use of City property is to tell the user that they must immediately stop and exit the property. That same practice and procedure would apply to any federal agency using City property without authorization. The proposed resolution clarifies that, if the unauthorized use is immigration enforcement, the City will document its demand and the federal agency’s refusal to comply and will inform City departments, the public, and the press regarding the location and nature of the unauthorized use of City property.
Second, some City facilities or areas of City facilities are restricted for use by City employees and officials and people expressly authorized to enter the facilities or areas. Those facilities and areas are protected by locked doors and gates and appropriately signed as restricted. Any entrance into those facilities or areas that is not expressly allowed is prohibited. That includes entrance by federal agencies without a judicial warrant. The City’s existing practice and policy for unauthorized actual or attempted entrance into a restricted City facility or area is to tell the individual that they must immediately cease attempting to enter or immediately exit the facility or area. That same practice and procedure would apply to any federal agency that has entered or is attempting to enter City property without a judicial warrant. The proposed resolution clarifies that, if the unauthorized entrance or attempt to enter, is immigration enforcement without a valid judicial warrant, the City will document its demand and the federal agency’s refusal to comply and will inform City departments, the public, and the press regarding the location and nature of the unauthorized use of City property. If the federal agency enters pursuant to a valid judicial warrant, the City will still document the encounter and report the nature and location of the federal agency’s activities to City departments, the South San Francisco community, and the press.
Third, in 2025, the California Legislature enacted, and the Governor signed, SB 627 and SB 805, the No Vigilantes Act. SB 627 prohibits a law enforcement officer from wearing a facial covering that conceals or obscures their facial identity in the performance of their duties, unless an exception applies. SB 805 requires a law enforcement officer that is not uniformed to visibly display identification that includes their agency and either a name or badge number to the public when performing their enforcement duties, unless an exception applies. Under both laws, law enforcement officers includes any officer or agent of a federal agency engaged in immigration enforcement or a person acting on behalf of a federal agency. In any interaction with a federal agency engaged in immigration enforcement, if City staff reasonably believe the federal agent is not complying with those State laws, they will request compliance. If the federal agent declines, City staff will document the encounter and report to City departments, the South San Francisco community, and the press the location and nature of immigration enforcement activities that are not complying with State law.
FISCAL IMPACT
City staff anticipates that the proposed resolution would have minimal fiscal impact. The primary fiscal impact is staff time to liaise with ICE and to share information and communications with the South San Francisco community.
CONCLUSION
Staff recommends that City Council consider a resolution reaffirming the City of South San Francisco’s commitment to diversity and inclusion; expressing grave concern over recent federal immigration enforcement actions and their impact on civil liberties; calling for accountability, transparency, and respect for due process; and clarifying existing laws and policies and the City’s response to immigration enforcement actions that do not comply with those laws and policies.
Hyperlink References
1. SSFPD Policy Manual - Chapter 4: Patrol Operations, Policy 418: Immigration Violations: <https://public.powerdms.com/SSFPD/tree/documents/1769028>
2. Police Department’s Transparency Portal: <https://www.ssfca.gov/Departments/Police-Department/Transparency-Portal>
3. February 3, 2025 Mayor’s Newsletter: <https://www.ssfca.gov/News/Feb.-3-2025-Message-from-Mayor-Eddie>
Attachments
1. Summary of Bay Area Counties & Cities with Policies Pertaining to ICE
Associated Documents
Legistar File 26-1417: Resolution