BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Delano City Council could approve an ordinance later this month that would place stricter regulations on federal immigration agents and operations on city-owned property, according to Mayor Salvador Solorio-Ruiz.
“I believe that we’re living in a time in which our fundamental principles and ideals as Americans are under attack,” Solorio-Ruiz said in an interview with 17 News. “We have Latinos being hunted in the streets of America, we have this agency not abiding by the rule of law.”
Solorio-Ruiz said he feels a huge responsibility to protect the community and help the community trust its government. He said all Delano community members belong in the city regardless of their documentation status.
“I want to also remind our community that this country is theirs, this city is theirs, regardless of their status,” said Solorio-Ruiz. “The reason that I brought this forward was because I feel like as a city, we need to rise up to the moment.”
Solorio-Ruiz said there have been some misconceptions about what this policy — which he called the “Community First” ordinance — is designed to do.
He said the policy doesn’t say Immigration and Customs Enforcement can’t enter the city of Delano, but instead would prohibit them from private spaces like office areas that may contain personal information of residents unless those agents have a valid judicial warrant or court order.
While they can still access public city-owned areas like parks, parking lots or City Hall, they wouldn’t be allowed to conduct operations without a judicial warrant or court order.
The city manager would document and alert the community and city leaders of any attempts by federal immigration agents to go against the policy, according to Solorio-Ruiz.
The policy is modeled after an ordinance adopted by the city of Pinole in December, Solorio-Ruiz said.
“The City seeks to implement an “ICE-Free Zone” ordinance to protect public safety, ensure community members feel safe accessing City services and facilities, and prevent voluntary use of City resources to support federal civil immigration enforcement,” the ordinance read.
The ordinance says Pinole’s existing policies didn’t explicitly restrict federal immigration enforcement agencies from using city-owned land or facilities for operations, staging, processing or surveillance. Without protection, city assets could be “weaponized against the very communities the City serves,” according to the ordinance.
According to Solorio-Ruiz, this ordinance would strengthen Senate Bill 54 in Delano by regulating city-owned property and land.
San Diego County officially bans ICE agents from non-public facilities
SB 54, which Delano has been abiding by, generally prohibits state and local law enforcement from using taxpayer funds to enforce federal immigration law, according to California Attorney General Rob Bonta.
Delano would be the first city in Kern County to consider and adopt this ordinance, Solorio-Ruiz said.
The City Council is expected to discuss and vote on this ordinance at 5:15 p.m. March 16 at City Hall at 1015 11th Ave.
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