Marina approves resolution prohibiting the use of city-owned property for immigration enforcement.

The City of Marina is joining other cities in California, including Watsonville and San Jose, to become an "ICE-free zone." On Tuesday, March 3, the City Council passed a resolution banning the use of city-owned property for civil immigration enforcement purposes. 

"The city stands with cities across the country that find ICE behavior deplorable and illegal in many cases," Mayor Bruce Delgado says. "[This vote] reduces the chance of ICE using city-owned properties like parks or public buildings."

“I’m grateful to see this included in our agenda and want to reaffirm my commitment to ensuring our city facilities remain safe and welcoming spaces for everyone in our community,” said City Councilmember Jenny McAdams, who requested the topic come forward. 

The resolution states that city’s facilities including parks, parking lots, open areas and buildings “are intended to serve community purposes—including recreation, civic engagement, public services, and economic activity—and are not designated for federal immigration enforcement operations…

"The use of City-owned facilities as staging areas, operational bases, or processing locations for federal civil immigration enforcement activities is not the intended use of these community assets and may undermine community trust, limit access to public spaces, and interfere with the City’s authority over its own property."

The resolution notes that with a signed warrant, immigration officers may enter a range of facilities. "Nothing in this resolution shall be construed as restricting or interfering with the execution of valid judicial warrants or court orders issued by federal or State judicial officers, nor with the enforcement of criminal law," it reads.

Delgado says that if there are violations, enforcement by the City would be civil in nature. "We would seek damages and ensuring compliance, rather than punish the offender criminally," Delgado adds. 

The resolution will return to council on March 17 for a second reading before adoption.