Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee along with several City Council members gathered in the city’s Fruitvale neighborhood Monday to rally support for proposed policy changes intended to strengthen protections for immigrants.
Councilmember Charlene Wang said a proposed city ordinance would restrict collection of immigration status on city forms, ban city officials from asking residents about their immigration status, prevent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from utilizing city property to stage immigration enforcement and prevent the Oakland Police Department from detaining anyone based on immigration status, among other things.
“We have a long history in the city of Oakland as a city of refuge with a sanctuary city policy,” Wang said. “But we have to strengthen these things further; there is room to grow and that is what we are voting on tomorrow … I feel good about it and think we will pass this legislation.”
Data gathered by the city indicates that rising statewide immigration detention rates have triggered “a climate of fear,” leading to a 57% increase in school absences for English learners during the 2025-26 school year, and a drop of 20%-30% in local commerce.
Councilmember Noel Gallo said that for him, this ordinance was about protecting those families who take their kids to and from school, so they may live normal lives without fear of family separation.
“The agenda is great, but I want to leave you with a message that we’re here together united,” Gallo said. “Our city employees will not be assistant federal agents when it comes to immigration.”
Mayor offers reassurance
Lee added that she wanted residents to feel reassured that they can call 911 without fear that the city would ask or collect their immigration status. She also said that the city would not allow ICE to come in and terrorize Oakland’s communities.
Community leaders were also present to provide support for the ordinance.
Christopher Martinez, executive director of the Spanish Speaking Citizens Foundation, said he believes the ordinance is a good first step toward supporting the immigrant communities in Oakland, and he believes that these types of laws have lowered negative outcomes for immigrant community members.
“We have a long history in the city of Oakland as a city of refuge with a sanctuary city policy, but we have to strengthen these things further …”
Councilmember Charlene Wang
“Actual arrests and detentions and deportations in Northern California are actually among the lowest in the nation, specifically for that reason we have strong (pro-immigrant) policies,” Martinez said. “California does have the largest undocumented population in the country, but Texas, for example, surpasses California in the number of deportations that occur because the state of Texas does not protect its community.”
Martinez echoed the sentiments from the elected leaders saying that these ordinances demonstrate that local leaders have the backs of residents, and that it was his job as a local leader to reinforce that message.
Oakland first enacted its “city of refuge” policy back in 1987, then reaffirmed its sanctuary city status in 2016. The city also terminated its cooperation agreement with ICE in 2017.
Oakland City Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance on Tuesday.
