Fresno’s City Council took decisive action on Thursday, passing a resolution that bars U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) from staging, processing, surveillance or logistical operations on any city‑owned property. The measure cleared the consent calendar with a 6‑1 vote, with Councilmember Nick Richardson the sole dissenting voice.
Local authority asserted
Mayor Jerry Dyer endorsed the resolution, stating that while the city will not prevent federal officers from performing legitimate criminal law enforcement, there is “no expectation that we’re going to have armed police officers going out and confronting armed ICE agents.” He added that allowing ICE to use public spaces would not serve the community’s best interests.
The new policy, sponsored by Councilmembers Annalisa Perea and Nelson Esparza, applies to all city‑owned public land, including parks, parking lots, recreation facilities and vacant parcels. It also establishes reporting procedures so city employees and security staff must document any attempts by ICE to use municipal property, with the city attorney receiving those reports.
Community concerns drive the change
Supporters pointed to recent ICE staging in Roeding Park and downtown parking lots, as well as an August arrest of an individual at Fresno Yosemite International Airport, as clear examples of why the ordinance was needed. More than 200 people have been detained by ICE in the Central Valley since early October, according to local observers.
Sukaina Hussain, deputy executive director of the California Immigrant Policy Center, noted that the resolution mirrors AB 1807, a state law taking effect in January that bans ICE staging on state‑owned property. Fresno joins cities such as Fremont, Santa Rosa and Alameda County that have adopted similar measures.
“When there is trust between the community and our local government, our communities are safer, healthier and more productive,” Hussain said. “Local resources are for local communities. City places are paid for by public tax dollars, and should be utilized for the community that funds them.”
Council members clarify intent
Esparza emphasized that the resolution does not close public spaces to federal officers nor interfere with legitimate criminal law enforcement. Perea added that the city has jurisdiction over how its sites are used and that the ordinance “establishes reasonable boundaries” for voluntary use of city property.
“Fear is crippling, and emotional fear is real, and nobody should have to fear whether or not it’s safe for them to walk out of their home,” Perea said at the news conference.
Related council actions
In the same meeting, councilmembers approved an extension of the Community Workforce Agreement (CWA) through Dec. 31, 2031, raising the project cost threshold from $1 million to $2.5 million. The CWA, originally signed in 2021 with the Fresno, Madera, Tulare and Kings Building Trades Council, sets wages, benefits and hiring goals for construction workers on city‑funded projects.
Mayor Dyer attributed the higher threshold to inflation in labor and material costs. City manager Georgeanne White noted that the average contract amount for CWA‑covered projects exceeds $4.7 million, supporting the need for a higher ceiling.
Councilmember Arias defended the increase, arguing that a 250 % jump from $1 million to $3.5 million is not inflation but a necessary adjustment to protect local union jobs and ensure workers receive decent wages, health care and retirement benefits.
Federal housing loan approved
The council also approved a resolution to apply for a $15 million HUD loan to expand affordable housing development and create a funding pool for nonprofit developers to purchase land and manufactured homes. Repayment would come from future Community Development Block Grant allocations over the next two decades.
These actions reflect a broader effort by Fresno’s elected officials to prioritize local control, protect taxpayers, and support community‑focused development while addressing concerns about federal immigration enforcement on city grounds.
Original reporting: Fresnoland — read the source article.
