In light of the escalating tensions in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the Sacramento City Council met Tuesday afternoon and unanimously voted to adopt an immigration platform that will reaffirm its sanctuary city status.
The resolution emphasized free speech rights in and around the John Moss Federal Building in Downtown Sacramento, which houses federal agencies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
It also highlighted the protection of city data or information that could be used to trace or determine a person’s citizenship or immigration status by any ICE agent.
Vice Mayor Karina Talamentes said during the city council meeting that Minneapolis has shown what’s possible when community, government, and advocates fight back against authoritarian government. She emphasized that the people in Sacramento are afraid.
“People are nervous to call the police department,” Talamentes said. “People are nervous to ask for help. Kids are scared to go to school. People are scared to ask for government resources, afraid they’ll get on a list. And there’s just a lot going on in our country.”
Since 1985, Sacramento has been a sanctuary city, which means it’s a local jurisdiction that chooses not to assist federal agents with immigration enforcement.
But many attendees said the city leaders need to go further in protecting immigrants, protesters and courtwatchers.
CapRadio reported a court watcher was attacked and hospitalized Friday, Jan. 23, outside of the John Moss Federal building.
Hundreds of activists and community members showed up at City Hall on Tuesday to call on the city to do more to protect immigrant communities. There were over 600 internet comments and over 90 in-person comments.
In an interview before the city council meeting, NorCal Resist Program Director Giselle Garcia said she hopes the city will consider prohibiting immigration officers from using city property.
NorCal Resist helps advocate for immigrants in the community.
“The city needs to put their foot down right, to send a message that federal enforcement agencies have to stop crossing these lines that are really just human rights abuses at this point,” Garcia said.
Rancho Cordova resident Elli Boss attended the council meeting to give public comment. In an emotional speech, Boss said the city’s response to ICE has been “slow and inadequate.”
“This is not a distant dread. This is happening now,” Boss said. “Delay is a choice. Silence is a choice, and in this moment like this, those choices put lives at risk. We do not need symbolic statements. We need real, long-term protections established now.”
In an interview with CapRadio, Boss said what’s happening with ICE directly impacts her community.
“I don’t even think it needs to be that impactful to my community to actually see what’s happening,” Boss said. “Honestly, this is some like, Nazi sh— that’s happening.”
Sacramento resident Skyler Henry also gave public comment at the city council meeting. He said in an interview with CapRadio that it’s remarkable that Mayor Kevin McCarty and Phil Plukebaum, who represents District 4 where the federal building is, were noticeably absent.
“I can’t imagine if I’m a community leader being anywhere else in this moment,” he said. “It’s a moment for real leadership. And these two guys couldn’t even show up to listen to people. I think it’s shameful to be honest.”
McCarty is attending the U.S. Conference of Mayors to develop solutions to the national crisis, according to Director of Communications Geneva Jacob. Phil Pluckebaum didn’t reply to requests for comment by the time of publication.
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.