Know Your Rights and Enforcement-Free Zones

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On February 3, 2026, the Santa Clara City Council unanimously established Council Policy 056, Prohibiting Use of City Properties for Civil Immigration Enforcement Purposes, which prohibits the use of City-owned or City-controlled parking lots, garages, open space, or other facilities as a “Staging Area,” “Processing Location,” or “Operations Base” for civil immigration enforcement purposes.

Per Council Policy 056, these terms are defined as:

Staging Area: An area that is used to assemble, mobilize, and deploy vehicles, equipment, or materials, and related personnel, for the purpose of carrying out civil immigration enforcement operations.
Processing Location: An area that is used for activities such as the identification, intake, processing of documentation, detention, arrest, or temporary holding of individuals in connection with civil immigration enforcement operations.
Operation Base: An area that is used to plan, coordinate and execute civil immigration enforcement activities.

What This Does Not Mean

This policy does not prevent ICE or other federal immigration authorities from being present in the City of Santa Clara. It does not stop immigration enforcement actions on public streets, highways, or other areas that are not owned or controlled by the City, and it does not apply to private property such as homes, businesses, or apartment complexes. The policy does not change or cancel any federal immigration laws, and it does not provide immunity or legal protection from those laws.

Existing Laws in California Regarding Immigration Enforcement

SB 54, the “California Values Act”: Generally, prohibits law enforcement from engaging in immigration enforcement or cooperating with federal immigration enforcement except in defined circumstances
AB 450, the “Immigration Worker Protection Act”: Generally, prohibits federal immigration enforcement authorities from accessing nonpublic private workplaces without a judicial warrant
SB 627, the “No Secret Police Act”: Purports to ban law enforcement (including federal) from wearing face coverings with exceptions for medical masks and certain tactical actions; currently suspended pending judicial review

Know Your Rights, Signage, Resources, and More

Know Your Rights

Regardless of your immigration status, you have guaranteed rights under the Constitution. Listed below are possible scenarios and what rights may be accorded to you. Red Cards, also known as "Know Your Rights" cards, provide essential information about immigration rights and can be picked up at all three library branches. Download printable Red Cards in 56 languages.

You have the constitutional rights to:

Not open the door if an immigration agent is knocking. If you are inside of your house, show the card through the window or slide it under the door.
Remain silent and not to answer questions from an immigration agent about your immigration status, where you were born, or how you entered the country.
Not sign anything without first speaking to a lawyer. You have the right to speak with a lawyer.

Signage for Private Properties

The City of Santa Clara has developed official signage that private property owners and leaseholders may choose to display on their premises. The signage states that law enforcement officials may not enter non-public areas of the property for the purpose of civil immigration enforcement, except as permitted by law. Display of this signage is entirely voluntary. The City of Santa Clara does not require participation and assumes no responsibility or liability related to the use or display of the signage.

Resources

For additional support and up-to-date information, visit the Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR). OIR works to support immigrant communities by connecting residents to trusted legal services, Know Your Rights resources, language access assistance, and community-based programs. The office also collaborates with local organizations to promote immigrant inclusion, safety, and access to county services. Learn more and explore available resources on the Santa Clara Office of Immigration webpage.

Santa Clara County Office of Immigrant Relations

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Council Policy 056?

The City of Santa Clara prioritizes the security and well-being of all residents and visitors, regardless of national origin or legal status. In alignment with this commitment, Council Policy 056 prohibits the use of City-owned or controlled parking lots, garages, open spaces, or other facilities as staging areas, processing locations, or operational bases for civil immigration enforcement. This policy ensures that public property is used exclusively for City purposes or authorized private uses, maintaining public trust and safety.

Which City properties are covered by this policy?

This policy applies to all City-owned or City-controlled parking lots, garages, open spaces, or other facility areas.

City-owned or City-controlled parking lots, vacant lots, garages, and open spaces may change over time due to acquisitions, dispositions, lease agreements, or operational needs. The Administration will oversee implementation of the policy in alignment with changes to the City’s property portfolio.

Does this policy apply to City properties operated by outside organizations under lease or contract?

Existing Contracts: The policy does not automatically impair existing leases or licenses. However, for sites like the Stadium, City staff will "meet and confer" with contract partners to develop mutually agreeable ways to implement the policy while maintaining necessary coordination for event security.

Future Agreements: All future leases, licenses, and operator agreements will include these use limitations as a standard condition wherever allowed by law.

Are private property owners subject to this policy?

Are any City properties currently being used by federal immigration agencies?

How will the City coordinate with the County or other jurisdictions?

What should a City employee do if they see unauthorized use of a City property?

How will the policy be enforced?

What resources are available to help residents understand their rights?

Community members can find “Know Your Rights” resources here and multilingual materials at City Libraries.

These materials cover:

Constitutional protections for all people, regardless of immigration status, including the right to remain silent and to speak with a lawyer before signing any documents.
How Council Policy 056 limits the use of City‑owned or City‑controlled properties for civil immigration enforcement, and what this policy does and does not do.
Key California laws related to immigration enforcement (such as SB 54, AB 450, SB 627, and SB 294) and how they affect interactions with law enforcement and immigration authorities.

How will the City communicate this policy?

The City is deploying signage at priority locations. The standard text states, "This property is owned or controlled by the City of Santa Clara. It may only be used for City purposes, or private uses authorized by the City, and may not be used for civil immigration enforcement Staging Area, Processing Locations, or Operations Bases." Information is also available through a city-wide memo and the official City website.

Contact Us

For questions regarding policy implementation, please contact the City Manager’s Office at 408-615-2210 or manager@santaclaraca.gov.

Last Updated:

02-05-2026