Another California county shuts its doors to ICE with new rules

Board passes two immigration ordinances

Alameda County has joined a growing list of Bay Area communities pushing back against federal immigration enforcement.

The Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on Jan. 27, 2026, to adopt two ordinances that restrict how federal agents can use county property.

The first creates “ICE-free zones” on county-owned land, while the second directs staff to develop a countywide response plan. Supervisor Nikki Fortunato Bas authored both measures.

Zones cover parking lots and buildings

The new policy bars federal agents from using county-owned parking lots, garages, and vacant lots for civil immigration enforcement. Agents also cannot access nonpublic areas inside county buildings.

These spaces are now off-limits as staging areas, processing locations, or operations bases. The restrictions apply only to civil immigration matters and do not block agents who hold valid judicial warrants.

Signs and barriers mark restricted areas

County officials will post signs at designated properties and install physical barriers where needed.,

Employees will receive training on the new rules and must report any attempts by federal agents to use county property. Hospitals have been directed to ask ICE agents to leave during patient care.

These steps aim to make the policy visible and enforceable across all county facilities.

The sheriff explains what the policy cannot do

Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez said residents should understand the limits of the new rules. The county cannot prevent ICE from making arrests in public areas like sidewalks or streets.

However, the sheriff’s department will not accept civil detainers at the county jail, and deputies will not cooperate with ICE on civil immigration matters.

The policy only controls what happens on county-owned property.

Chicago created the model last fall

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order on Oct. 6, 2025, that declared city-owned properties off-limits to ICE operations.

The move came after federal agents used city parking lots to stage enforcement activities.

Chicago also allowed private businesses to opt in to the protection network and distributed signs for participating properties. That approach became the blueprint for Bay Area jurisdictions.

Santa Clara County acted first locally

Santa Clara County created the Bay Area’s first official ICE-free zone when its Board of Supervisors voted unanimously in December 2025.

The policy restricts the use of county parking lots, garages, and vacant land for immigration enforcement. Supervisor Sylvia Arenas led the proposal.

Like Alameda County’s policy, the restrictions do not apply to agents carrying valid judicial warrants.

San Jose banned ICE from city garages

San Jose’s City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 13, 2026, to ban ICE from 11 city garages and parking lots. The policy also covers parking areas at 75 community centers and libraries throughout the city.

Officials coordinated this effort with Santa Clara County as part of a regional approach. Concerns about the upcoming Super Bowl and World Cup events added urgency to the vote.

Berkeley began reviewing property in fall

Berkeley’s City Council ordered an inventory of city-owned property in October 2025 to identify spaces that could be restricted from federal agents.

The city has long been a sanctuary city, and Mayor Adena Ishii cited Chicago as inspiration for the new effort.

Berkeley officials coordinated with Alameda County while developing their approach to ensure the policies would work together.

Officials cite courthouse arrests as concern

County officials said they want residents to access courts, hospitals, and services without fear of arrest. At least six Alameda County residents have been arrested by ICE near courthouses since September 2025.

The county considers itself a sanctuary for immigrants and refugees.

Meanwhile, the federal budget gave ICE an additional 75 billion dollars over four years, representing more than a 300 percent increase in enforcement capacity.

Federal agents staged at Coast Guard Island

In October 2025, more than 100 Customs and Border Protection agents deployed to Coast Guard Island, which borders Oakland. Protests erupted, and the operation was eventually called off.

That incident prompted local officials to develop protective policies. Supervisor Bas began drafting her proposals after watching the standoff unfold near her constituents’ homes.

Legal questions remain unanswered for now

Federal immigration law supersedes local policy, and these ordinances are largely untested in court. Counties cannot actively obstruct federal agents who are performing lawful duties.

The Department of Homeland Security has said it will not be deterred by local restrictions. The policies do not prevent arrests when agents hold valid judicial warrants, which limits their protective scope.

The county plans rapid response protocols next

The county administrator will now draft rapid-response protocols that include staff training and public communication strategies.

Supervisors previously approved more than 7 million dollars for immigrant services, including legal defense, deportation defense, and a hotline to track ICE activity.

San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on a similar proposal in the coming weeks.

Place to visit: Alameda County

Alameda County sits in the East Bay region directly across the water from San Francisco.

The county includes the cities of Oakland, Berkeley, Fremont, and Hayward, and is home to more than 1.6 million residents. It ranks as one of the most diverse counties in the United States.

Visitors come for its busy ports, well-known universities, and growing technology industry that stretches from the waterfront to the hills.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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