Throughout Santa Clara’s long and proud history, immigrants and people from all backgrounds have enriched and helped define Santa Clara’s cultural, economic, and civic life—as community leaders, entrepreneurs, neighbors, coworkers, and fellow students. Their presence and contributions have not only helped to fuel innovation, growth, and opportunity throughout the City, but have also shaped our identity.

By fostering an inclusive environment grounded in respect, dignity, and fairness, the Santa Clara City Council affirms the principle that every person deserves to feel safe, valued, and supported. When we embrace diversity, we are better equipped to thrive—socially, economically, and morally.

The Santa Clara City Council shares deep concern and sorrow over the loss of life connected to recent immigration enforcement actions nationwide, and we recognize that such conduct has made many members of our community fearful. The deaths and other incidents that appear to be inconsistent with respect for individual rights and due process demand serious attention at the federal level.

Major events such as the Super Bowl require extensive coordination among local, state, and federal agencies to ensure the safety of residents, visitors, and participants. As part of this coordinated effort, multiple agencies will be present as a routine and precautionary measure to support event security, emergency preparedness, and response to credible public-safety concerns. We engaged in this level of coordination in 2016 for Super Bowl 50, and it is common for all major sporting events, including the World Cup matches that will take place in Santa Clara this summer.

Maintaining public safety and the enforcement of laws carries a profound responsibility to protect human life and uphold dignity, due process, and accountability. Strong communities depend on trust between residents and public institutions, and for these reasons, we have adopted a Resolution that Prohibits Use of City Properties for Civil Immigration Enforcement Purposes and Related Policies to Provide Resources for City Property Owners, Businesses, and Residents.

During the Super Bowl and every day, the Santa Clara Police Department focuses solely on public safety and community protection. Our police officers do not engage in civil immigration enforcement. California state law reinforces this by prohibiting local law enforcement from cooperating with federal immigration enforcement efforts.

With respect to Super Bowl LX which will be played in Santa Clara and related events that will occur across the Bay Area, we appreciate recent statements by federal officials indicating that there are no plans for immigration enforcement or an ICE deployment connected to any of the events.

Standing with Santa Clara’s diverse and immigrant communities is not only an act of solidarity—it is a clear declaration of our values and a statement to future generations that we chose courage, fairness, and hope when it mattered most.

We encourage residents and visitors to enjoy Super Bowl events responsibly and join us in standing with Santa Clara’s diverse and immigrant communities.