Body of News Release
This letter was originally published by the Marin Independent Journal. Read the letter.
Marin County government exists to serve all of you.
We want children to be safe, families to stay together and everyone to feel comfortable asking for the help and services they need, regardless of immigration status. We hear calls from community advocates for us to do more, and we share that urgency.
Our differences are not about our values or whether immigrant families deserve protection. They are about how we use the full extent of our authority and resources to make a meaningful difference for the people who need us.
We have a duty to act and ensure our community receives the support and services it needs. That is why we will consider a policy at Tuesday’s Marin County Board of Supervisors meeting that would give employees clearer direction about what they can and cannot do.
Among other protections, it would prohibit federal immigration agencies from using county property as staging areas, processing locations or bases of operations, except where required by law.
While local government cannot stop federal immigration enforcement because of constitutional limitations or case law, we can control how our own employees and offices respond and prevent local resources from being commandeered.
The people who serve you every day have a responsibility to protect your information, respect your rights, manage access to county facilities and follow established procedures when federal immigration officials arrive. Their actions directly affect the people who count on us. Clear rules help employees make informed decisions in difficult situations and give families greater confidence that county services remain available when they need them.
We cannot lose sight of the real people caught in the middle of all of this. Families are facing the heartbreak of separation, and people who need housing, food, healthcare and other essential services are afraid to ask for help because they worry about what might happen when they walk through our doors or how their personal information could be used.
When the needs of our community collide with the limits of local government authority, it’s our community that bears the consequences.
We understand why advocates are calling for an ordinance, and we recognize that an ordinance can establish meaningful, enforceable protections. Our decision to propose a policy isn’t about choosing one over the other based on effectiveness. It’s about acting quickly while retaining the ability to adapt as federal enforcement practices and legal requirements evolve.
Our approach also aligns with guidance issued this summer by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, which calls on local governments to establish clear policies governing interactions with federal immigration authorities and protecting agency-held information. That guidance reinforces our decision to act through policy now, while maintaining the flexibility to strengthen or adjust our approach as circumstances change.
This conversation isn’t over. We still have obligations to our employees and must follow the law, but choosing a policy now doesn’t close the door to additional protections. We’re committed to listening, evaluating our approach and doing more where we can. Families also need help today.
The county has committed $1.5 million over two years to immigration legal services, emergency assistance and the Marin Rapid Response Network. For families facing an enforcement action, timely access to legal guidance and emergency assistance can help them make urgent decisions and find a path forward.
We’ll continue investing in the services and community organizations helping families affected by immigration enforcement. If you or someone you know needs support, information is available at tinyurl.com/3z7ufaxv.
At the end of the day, our job is not defined by whether we adopt a policy or an ordinance governing the use of county property and resources or requiring the reporting of immigration-enforcement activity. It’s measured by what our actions mean for you: whether you can seek the help you need and do so without fear, whether your personal information is protected and whether we’re using every tool within our authority to support you and your family.
It also means making sure the commitments we make on paper are carried out in practice. We expect to be held accountable for those results.
Dennis Rodoni and Stephanie Moulton-Peters are members of the Marin County Board of Supervisors. Both are members of the supervisors subcommittee on immigration. Tuesday’s meeting begins at 9 a.m. in the Board Chambers (Suite 330) of the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. Meeting agenda: tinyurl.com/3j2xz5mk.