Sacramento City Council approves funding for intelligence center amid sanctuary policy concerns
Special Projects/Investigations Manager
The Sacramento City Council has approved nearly $800,000 in funding for staffing the Central California Intelligence Center, a decision that has drawn mixed reactions over its potential impact on the city’s sanctuary policies.
Several council members shared their questions and concerns over the funding, and at one point council members had to leave the chamber because of loud interruptions from community members.
Sacramento City Councilmember Mai Vang voted against the agreement.
“Over the past few months, we have worked incredibly hard with the community to strengthen existing sanctuary policies, our immigrant protection measures, to ensure that we are responsive,” said Vang. “Supporting this item is, I feel, counter to our commitment as a sanctuary city.”
Sacramento Vice Mayor Karina Talamantes voted in favor of the agreement, saying, “If we don’t pass these dollars, other counties will apply for these dollars, they will get those dollars, and we will have no safeguards to protect our immigrant communities here in Sacramento.”
She said because the city is so progressive, she would prefer Sacramento be in charge of the funds as opposed to another jurisdiction with fewer protections in place.
The funding, part of a Homeland Security grant, will support staffing through March.
Sacramento police emphasized that local law enforcement agencies do not share personal information for immigration enforcement and stated that officers will continue to follow sanctuary state laws.
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