DATE: October 15, 2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Councilmembers
FROM: City Manager's Office
TITLE: REPORT ON ACTIONS TAKEN BY THE CITY IN SUPPORT OF COUNCILMEMBER AGENDA ITEM RELATED TO THE CITY’S RESPONSE TO FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES.
RECOMMENDATION
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Staff recommends that the City Council accept a report on actions being taken by staff in support of the September 17, 2025 Councilmember agenda item related to the City’s response to federal immigration enforcement activities.
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BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
On September 17, 2025, the City Council unanimously directed staff to implement seven specific actions intended to enhance trust within the community regarding immigration enforcement activities by the Federal Government. This report provides an update on the progress made to date and identifies any additional steps staff intends to take. Staff did not understand the City Council’s direction to include the preparation of a written Resolution memorializing the seven actions described below. If it is the City Council’s intent to memorialize these actions in the form of a Resolution, staff would recommend that such direction be provided in the form of a motion to be considered in conjunction with this agenda item.
1. The City will actively disseminate “Know Your Rights” information (including a website).
On September 9, 2025, the City launched a dedicated webpage on the City’s official web site summarizing the rights afforded to all individuals in the United States. This information was sourced from neutral, government-based resources and includes references to local contacts. The webpage provides general information only and does not constitute legal advice. The webpage can be accessed utilizing the following link: <https://tinyurl.com/myfczkvr>
Additionally, since January 2025, staff has made Know Your Rights literature and door hangers available at all of the City’s Community Resource Centers. The City is also extending the delivery of this information to publicly accessed spaces throughout all City facilities and has produced 1,000 brochures (Attachment 2) with this information in both English and Spanish. Staff at these centers also regularly refer and provide information on CSA San Diego County Services (a local non-profit that promotes social justice and access to public welfare programs) and Legal Aid Society of San Diego (Legal Aid) for those residents looking for resources on immigration services.
Furthermore, earlier this year, Know Your Rights workshops were hosted by Las Valientes and Legal Aid at the Chavez Resource Center, John Landes Community Center, and the Crown Heights Community Center.
An informational session also took place at the Eastside Neighborhood Association meeting on June 26, 2025, with representatives present from the American Civil Liberties Union, Oceanside Police Department and California Rural Legal Assistance. Lifeline Community Services also sponsored an immigration workshop in Crown Heights in June 2025. Other community meetings have been held at Joe Balderrama Recreation Center where representatives from the aforementioned non-profits were present to provide assistance and answer questions.
2. Prohibit federal law enforcement personnel from immigration enforcement in non-public areas of City-owned or City-controlled properties without a judicial warrant. Unless otherwise required by state and federal law.
Most non-public areas of City facilities are physically inaccessible to unauthorized persons (whether private persons or law enforcement) and are clearly denoted by restricted access doors and signage. Existing law, including the 4th Amendment, requires a lawful basis for non-City personnel to enter these non-public areas. Consistent with Council direction, the most effective way to further preserve these restrictions on non-City personnel from accessing non-public areas without either a judicial warrant or other lawful basis is through additional signage that clearly marks which spaces are restricted and accessible by authorized personnel only and not available to the general public. With this in mind, staff recently ordered 116 “Authorized Personnel" signs and has installed over 50 of these signs to date throughout various City facilities. Staff will continue to install these signs throughout other City facilities to clearly identify all non-public areas.
An example of this signage is attached to this report (Attachment 3).
Additionally, since January 2025, the City Attorney’s Office and Oceanside Police Department have been providing guidance to Department Directors regarding how City staff should handle any attempts by any non-City personnel to access restricted areas, consistent with existing state and federal law. In furtherance of this Council direction, the City Attorney’s Office will be providing additional training to supervisors and line staff, as appropriate, regarding their legal rights and obligations under state and federal law. While City staff can take reasonable steps to ensure non-public areas remain secure, they cannot obstruct or interfere with federal law enforcement actions. Staff is expected to document any interaction and contact appropriate Supervisors, Department Directors, local law enforcement, and/or the City Attorney’s Office if contacted by federal immigration authorities.
3. Future City contracts to include clauses prohibiting contractors from disclosing sensitive, personal, or non-public information to federal immigration enforcement agencies. Unless otherwise required by state and federal law.
State and federal laws currently address the collection and disclosure of sensitive non-public information and how that information can be used. The City expects all contractors to adhere to state and federal law regarding non-public or private information collected and distributed in relation to City-procured or City-sponsored services. To further these existing protections, the City Attorney’s Office is amending City contract templates to include language that prohibits disclosing non-public personal identifying information, including to federal immigration enforcement agencies, unless required by state or federal law.
4. Sensitive or personal data collected by the City will not be shared with immigration enforcement agencies, directly or indirectly. Unless otherwise required by state and federal law.
As noted above, state and federal laws currently address the collection and disclosure of sensitive non-public information and how that information can be used. The City follows all applicable state and federal laws, including SB 54, regarding what personal information is or is not collected and maintains a long-standing practice of safeguarding sensitive and personal information. Employees handing such information are trained on the proper handling of this data and strict protocols exist in the event of a breach. The City Manager’s Office and the City Attorney have begun reminding Department Directors of the importance of staff adhering to these existing protocols, procedures, and best practices.
5. Direct staff to publish official procedures for Oceanside Police Department when responding to calls for mutual aid of any federal agency conducting immigration enforcement.
The Oceanside Police Department, in collaboration with the Information Technology Department, developed a website that provides the community with information on SB54 and resources available should a loved one be arrested by an immigration enforcement agency. Additionally, the page contains a link to OPD’s procedures when responding to mutual aid of any federal agency conducting immigration enforcement.
<https://tinyurl.com/3tktm4tu>
These procedures reaffirm and ensure that all Police Department personnel remain compliant with SB 54 and departmental policy. Their role is not to assist in immigration enforcement but to protect life, prevent violence, and maintain peace. Officers and dispatchers are expected to approach all ICE-related incidents with professionalism, neutrality, and a commitment to community trust and safety.
6. Direct staff to publish an official statement following calls for mutual aid.
The website referenced above (see action #5) will also contain a section where the Chief of Police will publish/post an official statement following calls for mutual aid as soon as practical.
7. Address letter to Congress expressing the City’s desire to see comprehensive immigration reform at the Federal level.
Staff has drafted the attached letter (Attachment 4) for consideration by Council. As discussed at the September 17 City Council meeting, this letter was based on a similar request sent by the City of Escondido to Congress on August 13, 2025.
FISCAL IMPACT
The costs of the above-described actions are collectively less than $5,000 and will be paid for by City Manager’s Office Contingency budget and, as appropriate, Departmental Maintenance and Operations budgets.
COMMISSION OR COMMITTEE REPORT
Does not apply.
CITY ATTORNEY’S ANALYSIS
The City adheres to state and federal law with respect to its operations and contracts, including but not limited to, SB 54 and 8 USC § 1373. The administrative actions detailed in this report are intended to educate and provide transparency regarding individual rights and expectations in relation to the City, as well as provide clarity as to how City personnel uphold their obligations under state and federal law.
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Prepared by: Michael Gossman, Assistant City Manager
Submitted by: Jonathan Borrego, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Staff Report
2. “Know Your Rights” Brochure
3. Signage Example
4. Draft Letter from Council to Congress