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<\/a><\/p>\nThe city\u2019s policy comes on the heels of Santa Clara County passing a\u00a0similar policy<\/a>\u00a0to block ICE from using county-owned vacant lots, garages and other spaces for immigration enforcement. The\u00a0city and county\u2019s plan<\/a>\u00a0is part of a spreading, national movement to freeze ICE agents out of certain areas after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an Oct. 6 executive order\u00a0laying out similar rules<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are sending a bold and unmistakable message: City property exists to serve our residents, not to facilitate federal actions that undermine community trust or public safety,\u201d District 5 Councilmember Peter Ortiz, who led the effort, said at the council meeting. \u201cI do want to acknowledge that this policy has yet to be challenged in the court of law, and there are questions about enforcement. That being said, just as we see the executive branch of our federal government expanding beyond its historical role to target our residents, so should we, in order to defend those we love and call our neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n Signs stating prohibited use will be posted at all locations, and gates will be installed where appropriate. City employees who become aware of ICE activity will be required to report it to their supervisors.<\/p>\n The exception to the new rule<\/p>\n Though the city owns hundreds of vacant lots and spaces, many of these sites are located along creeks and aren\u2019t accessible for public parking, according to a city memo. San Jose will continue to update its list of prohibited properties.<\/p>\n This policy won\u2019t prohibit properties and parcels that are already in use by federal agencies. A spokesperson for the city manager\u2019s office said there are no known city-owned properties being used for immigration enforcement purposes.<\/p>\n \u201cThe city has established safe site protocols in the event that immigration enforcement activities take place at city properties,\u201d spokesperson Carolina Camarena told San Jos\u00e9 Spotlight. \u201cThe next step is to develop and refine additional procedures that will ensure enforcement.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are sending a bold and unmistakable message: City property exists to serve our residents, not to facilitate federal actions that undermine community trust or public safety.\u201d<\/p>\n Councilmember Peter Ortiz<\/p>\n The policy isn\u2019t meant to impede federal officials from carrying out their duties under the law, such as operating Transportation Security Administration checkpoints at San Jose Mineta International Airport for aviation purposes, according to the memo.<\/p>\n \u201cWe want all residents to know that they can safely come to their city, to use the services we provide, to work with (the San Jose Police Department) to report crime,\u201d San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan said at the meeting. \u201cObviously, I have and we all share deep concerns about the way federal immigration enforcement is being carried out in our country right now.\u201d<\/p>\n The fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident and U.S. citizen Renee Good last week by an ICE agent has stoked national unrest.\u00a0More than 1,000 protests<\/a>\u00a0took place across the country over the weekend.<\/p>\n Immigrant groups push stronger protections<\/p>\n Santa Clara County immigration advocates\u00a0spoke against the violence<\/a>\u00a0they said they\u2019ve experienced with ICE agents and called for more state funding for legal protections.<\/p>\n \u201cOur friends and neighbors all over the country and right here in San Jose live in terror, and it\u2019s constant,\u201d Kim Guptill, a volunteer with the\u00a0Rapid Response Network<\/a>, which documents and sends alerts of ICE activity in the county, said at the meeting. \u201cI also encourage the mayor and his team to work harder and faster on getting his contacts in philanthropy to donate more to protecting our immigrant siblings, as he promised back on May 19.\u201d<\/p>\n San Jose implemented several policies last year to protect its immigrant communities, including\u00a0prohibiting law enforcement from masking<\/a>\u00a0in the city and\u00a0investing $1 million<\/a>\u00a0to bolster immigrant defense organizations such as\u00a0Amigos de Guadalupe<\/a>. San Jose\u2019s population of nearly 1 million residents is made up of\u00a041% immigrants<\/a>.<\/p>\n Councilmembers have also directed staff to analyze San Jose\u2019s investments in order to divest from corporations with potential ties to ICE. City workers will report back in March.<\/p>\n \u201cWe came together as friends and neighbors to address this issue,\u201d District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan said at the meeting. \u201cBecause (it affects) not only the Hispanic community, it affects the Asian community immensely as well. When we unite and organize, we can make a difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Contact Joyce Chu at\u00a0joyce@sanjosespotlight.com\u00a0or @joyce_speaks on X.<\/p>\n