Redwood City — As concerns about federal immigration enforcement activity rise, the Board of Supervisors today introduced an ordinance that would strengthen and clarify rules that govern how County officials interact with federal immigration authorities.

The measure is aimed at strengthening existing County protections, increasing transparency around enforcement activity and reinforcing efforts to maintain public safety and trust within immigrant communities. Supervisors approved the ordinance unanimously on a first vote. It would take effect only after a second and final reading at an upcoming meeting.

“This ordinance is a powerful step forward in protecting every person in our county and setting a new standard for transparency and trust,” said Supervisor Noelia Corzo, who introduced the proposal with Supervisor Ray Mueller. “By passing this ordinance today, we are sending a clear and unwavering message that San Mateo County stands strongly with our immigrant community, and that we are ready to protect and support every member of our community,” Corzo said.

The ordinance would restrict federal immigration agents’ access to County buildings and facilities, formalize quarterly reporting by the Sheriff’s Office and the Probation Department, and sharpen prohibitions on using local personnel, equipment or funds to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement, except in cases explicitly required under state or federal law.

The measure also takes aim at a growing concern, particularly among immigrant communities: law-enforcement identification, particularly face coverings.

“By establishing clear reporting requirements and protecting the public from confusion caused by unidentified law enforcement personnel, we are enhancing safety and community trust,” Mueller said.

The ordinance would prohibit County employees, sworn or civilian, from wearing face coverings that obscure identity while performing their public duties — a direct response, County officials said, to recent reports of individuals believed to be federal agents appearing at local facilities without clear identification.

Under the ordinance, the Sheriff’s Office would be required to track every request for assistance made by federal immigration agencies, log the legal authority cited and document any action taken by deputies. The Chief Probation Officer would be held to the same standard. All requests — whether granted or denied — would be disclosed in quarterly reports, which the Board says are intended to strengthen public oversight and maintain trust with immigrant residents.

The County already maintains policies limiting cooperation with immigration enforcement efforts with rules adopted years ago during earlier waves of federal enforcement. But supervisors said a combination of recent federal actions, community accounts of encounters with unidentified officers and the lingering fear among mixed-status families led them to revisit the framework.

The County also bars federal immigration agents from entering nonpublic areas of County property without a judicial warrant. That includes jail facilities, probation offices and other restricted spaces where residents might seek services or attend mandated appointments.

If approved on a second vote at an upcoming meeting, the ordinance would represent one of the County’s most expansive efforts in recent years to draw clear boundaries between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities — and to make any contact between them visible to the public.

Media Contact
Jacki Rigoni
Office of Supervisor Noelia Corzo
jrigoni@smcgov.org
650-906-8637