Sanctuary City & Immigrant and Refugee Protections Policy

Sacramento's Sanctuary City History & Current Status

History & Policy Timeline

• 1985: Sacramento declared itself a Sanctuary City via Resolution 85-973, primarily to protect refugees from Guatemala and El Salvador. The resolution defined Sacramento as a "haven" offering humanitarian assistance and barred city employees from inquiring about residents' citizenship or residency status unless mandated by law.

• 2017: The City reaffirmed its status with Resolution 2017-0158, repealing the 1985 resolution to clarify the City’s stance amidst changing federal policies. It emphasized that:

  • The City values equal protection for all residents regardless of immigration status.

  • City officials are prohibited from using City resources to enforce federal civil immigration laws.

• 2025: The District 8 Office provided an update to the City’s Racial Equity Committee on Sacramento’s ongoing sanctuary city efforts, including a status update on the sanctuary city lawsuit. Sacramento is one of 16 municipal jurisdictions serving as plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging actions by the Trump administration that violate the Constitution by targeting and penalizing sanctuary city jurisdictions.

View the City’s Discussion Regarding City of Sacramento's Sanctuary City Efforts

• July 17, 2025, The Sacramento Police Department published a departmental memorandum outlining internal protocols for officers in contact with federal immigration enforcement activities Federal Immigration Assistance Response.

• November 18, 2025, Community advocates sent a letter to District offices outlining their demands for updates to the City of Sacramento’s Sanctuary City policy. At the time, the letter was signed by SEIU 2015; Sacramento Stonewall Democrats; Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) at Sacramento State University; Sacramento Latino Democratic Club; Latinx Young Democrats of Sacramento County; Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP) Sacramento; Decarcerate Sacramento; Public Health Advocates; Sacramento Democratic Socialists of America; Nkauj Iab Yang, Sac Defense, Director; Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA); Organize Sacramento; NorCal Resist; and Hmong Innovating Politics.

• January 27, 2026, the Sacramento City Council unanimously adopted its first update to the City’s immigration platform since 2017. The resolution reaffirms Sacramento’s status as a city of refuge, strengthens protections against federal immigration enforcement, safeguards free speech, particularly around the John Moss Building, and restricts the use of City data to track residents’ immigration status. Watch the full council discussion here.

• During the discussion, Councilmember Vang announced that she would be working alongside Vice Mayor Talamantes and Mayor Pro Tem Guerra on a resolution to prohibit ICE activity on City property. The proposal was confirmed to move forward to the Law and Legislation Committee for consideration before advancing to the full Council at a later date.

• Councilmember Vang also announced her partnership with community organizers and colleagues to advance a Sacramento Community Action Plan. The plan is intended to prepare the City before a crisis occurs, not after, by establishing clear response protocols for potential mass enforcement actions and other emergency scenarios.

• Hundreds of community members attended to provide public comment, and nearly 700 additional e-comments were submitted, urging the City Council to update Sacramento’s sanctuary policy and develop an implementation action plan with the greatest urgency possible.

• February 9, 2026, the November 18 community letter outlining demands for updates to the City of Sacramento’s Sanctuary City policy was resent to District offices with an updated version signed by 27 local community groups, Democratic clubs, labor unions, and nonprofit organizations, including SEIU 2015; SEIU United Healthcare Workers (UHW); United Auto Workers (UAW) Region 6; California Association of Professional Scientists (CAPS); California Faculty Association (CFA) at Sacramento State University; Wellstone Democratic Club of Sacramento; Fem Dems of Sacramento County; Sacramento Stonewall Democrats; Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) at Sacramento State University; Sacramento Latino Democratic Club; Latinx Young Democrats of Sacramento County; Anti Police-Terror Project (APTP); Decarcerate Sacramento; Public Health Advocates; Sacramento Democratic Socialists of America; Cal Defense; Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA); Organize Sacramento; NorCal Resist; Hmong Innovating Politics (HIP); Asian American Liberation Network (AALN); Sacramento Area Congregations Together (ACT); Sacramento Immigration Committee; Sacramento Immigration Council; Healthcare Workers for Palestine Sacramento; South of Market Community Action Network (SOMCAN); and Council on American-Islamic Relations Sacramento Valley/Central California (CAIR-SV/CC).

• February 10, 2026, the City’s Law and Legislation Committee passed a motion advancing the resolution to prohibit the use of City property for federal immigration enforcement activities. The committee directed City staff to begin developing the policy, which would prohibit federal immigration-related enforcement efforts from taking place on City-owned property. Watch the full committee discussion here.

• Present: The District 8 Office is preparing to submit a Council proposal to advance the Sacramento Community Action Plan for Council consideration. At this time, timelines for when both the resolution to prohibit the use of City property for federal immigration enforcement activities and the Sacramento Community Safety Action Plan will be agendized before the full Mayor and City Council are still to be determined.

Immigrant Protection Policies

• Sanctuary City Resolution – Currently in litigation.

• Immigration Policy Platform – Unanimously adopted in January 2026.

• Resolution Directing the City Manager to Prohibit the Use of City Facilities for ICE Activities – Advanced by the Law and Legislation Committee and pending full Council consideration (date TBD).

• Resolution on Affirming birthright citizenship in the city of Sacramento as a Constitutional Right – District 8–sponsored Council proposal submitted in February 2026; expected to be agendized before the Law and Legislation Committee (date TBD).

• Sacramento Community Action Plan – District 8 Council proposal to be submitted February 2026.

Sacramento FUEL Network and City Funding

Establishment of the FUEL Network

• On May 4, 2017, alongside reaffirming Sacramento’s Sanctuary City status, the Sacramento City Council formally established a partnership with local organizations and health services to serve the immigrant and refugee populations through the creation of the Sacramento Family Unity, Education, and Legal (FUEL) Network for Immigrants.

• This was authorized by Resolution 2017-0519, which appropriated $300,000 from the General Fund for FY 2017/18 to provide grants supporting the FUEL Network's efforts.

• From 2018 to 2025, FUEL was hosted by the California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF).

• As of April 2, 2025, the California Immigration Project became the hosting organization for the Sacramento FUEL Network, continuing the coalition’s operations and service delivery.

• During the 2025 Proposed Budget Deliberations, Councilmember Mai Vang advocated for protecting city staff and programs that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion. The City’s contract with the FEUL Network was one of the four core areas she prioritized. Councilmember Vang stated, “In these challenging times, it is more important than ever for the City of Sacramento to double down on our support for refugee and immigrant families and ensure that legal support is available to them.” View Vang’s full remarks here.

• As of June 10, 2025 the FUEL Network was included in the City’s 25/26 Adopted Operating Budget. View Vang’s full remarks here.

Know your rights

• If You Are Detained: Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator to find loved ones.

• If You Are Undocumented: You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to discuss your immigration or citizenship status with police, immigration agents, or other officials.

• If ICE is at Your Door: Do not open the door unless there is a warrant signed by a judge. ICE “warrants” that are not signed by judges do not allow entry without your consent.

• If You Are a U.S. Citizen or Have Lawful Immigration Status: You may show your passport, green card, work permit, or other valid documentation.

• Know & Communicate Your Rights: Access free “Know Your Rights” Red Cards: https://www.ilrc.org/red-cards-tarjetas-rojas

• If you see ICE activity, call the Rapid Response Network Hotlines (California):

  1. Los Angeles: 888-624-4752

  2. Orange County: 714-881-1558

  3. Sacramento: 916-382-0256

  4. San Bernardino / Riverside: 909-361-4588

  5. Santa Barbara / Ventura / San Luis Obispo: 805-870-8855

  6. Central Valley: 559-206-0151

  7. Kern County: 661-432-2230