Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty speaks before participating in the Sacramento County Point-in-Time homeless count in January.
HECTOR AMEZCUA
hamezcua@sacbee.com
Sacramento Mayor Kevin McCarty accused an immigration advocacy organization of “crying wolf” over an incident at the John E. Moss Federal Building involving a detained man whose family worried he suffered a medical emergency, according to NorCal Resist.
McCarty reportedly lobbed his accusation during a Thursday meeting scheduled with the advocates, who have long pushed for Sacramento to strengthen its policies against federal immigration enforcement, said NorCal Resist programs director Giselle Garcia.
“I don’t think I have been in a space where I felt that level of condescension and disappointment,” she said.
The City Council in January passed a resolution upholding the rights of protesters to record authorities, including U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement agents. But scores of frustrated residents denounced the policy during a three-hour council meeting as weak and ineffective.
McCarty did not deny NorCal Resists’ version of events, and in a statement thanked the nonprofit and other elected officials for helping the man.
“We’re grateful to NorCal Resist, immigrant rights organizations and the thousands of Sacramentans who continue to stand up against unjust and immoral ICE operations under the current federal administration,” he wrote.
The accusation that NorCal Resist falsely raised an alarm revolves around a man who was picked up Thursday by federal immigration agents and detained at the downtown federal building. The building has become a flashpoint for months as federal agents seize immigrants after they appear for scheduled immigration court hearings.
The man’s sister roamed around the Moss building and told NorCal Resist members that her brother, from Vacaville, was picked up by federal authorities, said Eric Hill, a volunteer with NorCal Resist. The sister looked confused, upset and shocked, he said.
The man’s family worried he was entering into a state of shock with his “ongoing medical condition,” Garcia said. She declined to identify the man, his medical condition or why he was detained.
For months, the nonprofit volunteers have met at the Moss building to accompany people appearing in court for check-ins with judges. Federal authorities at times detain immigrants appearing for court appointments.
“We were extremely concerned that if medical attention was not immediately received, this individual would die whether at the John Moss building or when transferred to the detention center,” according to NorCal Resist. “The relative of the detainee was worried that his health would deteriorate fast.”
The volunteers called Councilmember Karina Talamantes, Rep. Doris Matsui and Sen. Alex Padilla to request help, Garcia said. Talamantes and Matsui dispatched staff members to help make way for aid and paramedics ultimately arrived, she said.
Talamantes, Matsui and Padilla did not respond to a request for comment.
Talamantes called Sacramento Fire Chief Chris Costamagna to tell him a person in custody needed medical attention, said fire spokesperson Capt. Justin Sylvia. The chief sent resources to evaluate the individual, who eventually declined medical help, Sylvia said.
“He was never … put in the category of a patient,” Sylvia said.
Garcia was not at the downtown federal building Thursday when the incident occurred. But she and others had scheduled a meeting weeks in advance with McCarty to discuss a potential ordinance to strengthen the city’s protections for immigrants.
The meeting got off to a sour start, she said.
McCarty walked into the room, fresh off a call briefing him on the incident. He informed the NorCal Resist activists they needed to get their facts straight because otherwise they are just “crying wolf,” Garcia said.
She said he then proceeded to scold the activists for reaching out to the three elected officials and the fire department “almost like it was an embarrassment for the city.”
Garcia said they pushed back against McCarty’s accusation, saying the man’s health condition prompted a need for medical intervention even if he ultimately declined assistance. “We don’t know the life experiences behind his person that made him refuse,” Garcia said.
Sacramento was among the first American cities to declare itself a sanctuary city in 1985. Council members Mai Vang, Eric Guerra and Talamantes have collaborated on a proposal to ban immigration enforcement on city-owned properties.
McCarty has said he supports the policy.
“I’m proud to serve as mayor of a 40-year sanctuary city that stands with all immigrants, regardless of status,” McCarty said. “We have never — and will never — assist the federal government with civil immigration enforcement.”
The ordinance has not yet reached the City Council for a vote.
Garcia accused the mayor of failing to connect with the community over immigration, but said her group was willing to work with him moving forward.
“We are truly disappointed and hope that the mayor can take this as an opportunity to learn and move forward a policy that is actually meaningful,” she said.
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 4:34 PM.
Related Stories from Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee
Ishani Desai is a government watchdog reporter for The Sacramento Bee. She previously covered crime and courts for The Bakersfield Californian.