PETALUMA, Calif. – As ICE makes headlines nationally, residents in Petaluma are pushing back locally.
On Monday, Sept. 28, the Petaluma City Council is scheduled to consider a resolution adopting policies and procedures governing the city’s interactions with immigration authorities and access to city property, facilities and information.
The resolution, which advocates have referred to as a “no-cooperation with ICE” ordinance, is the result of an effort that Petaluma residents and groups such as the North Bay Organizing Project (NBOP) and Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition have pursued for months.
While the final language of the resolution has not yet been released, activists and community members first introduced a draft of the no-cooperation ordinance to the City Council in July.
That draft included provisions that would prohibit the use of city resources and property for ICE operations, including city parking garages as staging areas or operational bases. It would also restrict the city from responding to voluntary requests from ICE or other federal immigration agencies unless required by law or a court order.
In August, NBOP held a picnic, piñata and sign-making workshop in support of the no-cooperation ordinance.
“The intention of those piñatas is that we’re going to break [them] when the ordinance is accepted,” said Gina Garibo, a community organizer with NBOP in an interview with North Bay Vanguard.
The piñatas were originally intended to be shaped like ice cubes, but ended up taking their own shapes.
“We are building up some momentum for when we win, because we know that Petaluma is going to do the right thing. Petaluma City is going to make us immigrants feel more welcome and belong here,” Garibo said.
Linda Evans is also a community organizer with NBOP.
She said the proposed ordinance would require city employees to receive training on their rights and on how to interact with ICE if agents enter city property or approach them while providing city services.
“They need training. They need role-playing,” Evans said, adding that she believes the training would protect both city employees and residents seeking services.
At a Sept. 14 City Council meeting, community members spoke in support of the proposed ordinance.
“Right now, our immigrant neighbors, the backbone of our community, live in constant fear of ICE, a rogue agency where due process violations and human rights abuses grow daily,” said Petaluma resident Elana Feldman during public comment.
“But Petaluma’s heart is strong – talking with our neighbors about our non-cooperation with ICE ordinance, I have seen our community rally and over 32 local businesses and organizations endorse this ordinance … This is a time to love our neighbors and act with courage,” said Feldman.
Sonoma County educator Elizabeth Escalante attended the meeting with protest signs in various asian languages.
Escalante emphasized the importance of greater representation for Southeast Asian communities in Sonoma County, including Filipino, Lao, Khmer and Hmong residents, and making their concerns more visible in immigrant-rights advocacy.
“There’s got to be one person at least that will put it forward,” said Escalante in an interview.
Earlier this year, The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors passed its own no-cooperation with ICE ordinance. Community members said it wasn’t enough, and criticized the ordinance for an exemption involving the sheriff.
Organizers said they expect this resolution to pass, but the final language and scope of the policies remain to be determined by the City Council.