The Santa Clara Police Department is entrusted to protect and serve our community. It is our goal for individuals to feel safe in their home, at their school or job, in their neighborhood and within their place of worship. The City of Santa Clara honors the rich diversity within our community.

The Police Department will not conduct sweeps or other coordinated efforts to detain suspected undocumented immigrants. It is neither the Police Department's mission or role. The Police Department will not detain, question or arrest a person for the sole purpose of discovering a person’s citizenship or status under civil immigration laws.

The responsibility for enforcement of civil immigration laws rests with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Removal Operations (ERO). ICE personnel are not allowed access to individuals detained by the Police Department, unless their access is needed for a serious criminal investigation. The Police Department will only participate in an ICE or ERO operation if Police Department assistance becomes needed (e.g. officer safety, traffic control, peacekeeping efforts, etc.).

The Police Department recognizes that mutual trust and respect is the cornerstone to protecting and serving the entire community, and in seeking justice for all victims of crime. Law-abiding, undocumented immigrants should not fear arrest or deportation for contacting the Police Department to report a crime as a victim or witness. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1 or for non-emergencies, call (408) 615-5580. For those that cannot safely call 9-1-1 in a dangerous situation, or have a hearing or speech disability, you may send a text to 9-1-1.

A number of trusted resources are available to immigrant families. All of the links listed have been vetted by the Santa Clara County Office of immigrant Relations and are meant to provide individuals with access to information, they are not meant to provide legal advice.