21 Mar Richmond Strengthens Sanctuary City Ordinance to Protect Immigrant Community

Richmond City Council voted unanimously March 11 to strengthen its sanctuary city ordinance, which dates back to 1990.(Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

In its latest effort to protect its immigrant population, the Richmond City Council voted unanimously last week to strengthen its sanctuary city ordinance.

The proposal, which builds on an existing sanctuary city policy from 1990, means city resources and personnel would not be used to help with federal immigration enforcement. 

“Fear cannot stop us from doing the things that we need to protect our communities in hard times, and these are hard times,” said council member Claudia Jimenez at the March 11 meeting.

It comes as several Bay Area cities ramp up their defense against President Donald Trump’s continued threats to immigrant communities, which includes moves to strip municipalities of federal funding for providing sanctuary. 

“Despite all these bullies and attacks — racist attacks — that are coming from the federal level,” she said, “we are here today saying we are standing with the community and the most vulnerable to protect and do whatever it takes to … continue to stand by the immigrant community and every community that needs support.” 

>>>Read: Contra Costa School Districts Respond to Concerns Over Trump Immigration Policies<<<

Richmond’s 1990 ordinance was amended in 2018 during Trump’s first term — something other cities also did — to stop contracting with certain companies that collaborate with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Despite threats from Trump to pull federal funding from municipalities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement, Senior Assistant City Attorney Kimberly Chin said Richmond’s risk doesn’t change with the additional protections.

“Adopting and enhancing upon those prior city protections doesn’t change the risk because the city of Richmond already has policies that protect the immigrant community,” she said. 

Though the protections are not a new practice for the city, the changes would make them official. 

“It’s really important to communicate to our community members that they can trust us,” said council member Sue Wilson. “By putting it into our municipal code, we’re holding all of us accountable.” 

>>>Read: Richmond Allocates $1 Million in Support for Immigrants<<<

Trump’s threats to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities during his first term were blocked by several rulings — including in San Francisco, which sued the Trump administration in 2017. Richmond also sued Trump over the issue in 2017. 

The risk of losing federal funding was the only concern for council member Jamelia Brown, who questioned how to protect immigrant communities and other communities that benefit from the approximately $62.2 million in federal funding. 

City Attorney Dave Aleshire said that while Richmond has not been a target like other sanctuary cities, there is “no way to try and forecast our outguess what might come down the road.” 

A majority of community members were in support of the proposed changes. 

“This ordinance is not only about protecting our immigrant residents but also about maintaining trust between the community and the city,” said resident Carmen Martinez. “We must continue to prioritize our community’s safety and well-being, not participating in actions that will violate constitutional rights.”

>>>Read: Immigrants’ Rights in the Face of Increased ICE Enforcement: What You Need to Know<<<

Additionally, Mayor Eduardo Martinez mentioned that city staff will revisit the suggestions of creating safe zones on city property and ensuring that contractors do not share data with ICE in the future.

Safe zones would likely be separate from the sanctuary policy in future changes.  Council members in 2018 passed a policy to block contracts with companies that provide data to ICE. The Richmond Police Department filed an exemption this year to that policy before withdrawing the request. 

The second reading of the ordinance will be brought back before the council at a later meeting.