Source: Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance
By Jess Jollett
On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance (CCIRA) is hosting a press event to urge the Board of Supervisors to pass a strong countywide ordinance creating the necessary barriers to prevent Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal agencies from pillaging and looting Contra Costa County resources.
For over a year, immigration attorneys, advocates, and community members have worked to propose language and advocate for a strong ordinance. Contra Costa is one of the few Bay Area counties without this protection. Neighboring counties of Alameda, San Mateo, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, and Sonoma all have non-cooperation ordinances in effect. And the draft proposed by county counsel is insufficient to protect our residents and not in compliance with the recent guidance issued by the CA Attorney General.
Inspired by the Summer 2025 TRUTH Act and ICE’s expanding presence in Contra Costa, the Contra Costa Immigrant Rights Alliance, Lift Up Contra Costa, and its allies have been advocating for a non-cooperation ordinance that:
- Prohibits the usage of our county’s resources and funds for ICE operations.
- Calls for the creation of county-wide policies to protect county workers.
- Safeguards our county data from being raided by ICE agents.
- Ensures that county contractors do not comply or cooperate with ICE agents.
- Demands that the Sheriff Department report its contact with federal agencies.
Since January, over 50 people have died in ICE custody. We have also witnessed ICE’s rogue extrajudicial killings in Minnesota, Houston and Biddeford. Local ordinances are one answer to these deadly federal immigration enforcement tactics. These unprecedented times require brave leadership and action. We’re calling on the Board of Supervisors to do their duty and to stop delaying. Contra Costa deserves better.
What: Press Event Demanding the Passage of a Strong ICE Non-Cooperation Ordinance in Contra Costa County
Confirmed Speakers:
Danny Espinoza, Director, Lift Up Contra Costa
Rev. Deborah Lee, Executive Director of Interfaith Movement for Human Integrity
Brandon Dawkins, VP of Organizing, SEIU 1021
Cameron Sasai, Mayor of the City of Pinole
Miosotti Tenecora, Staff Attorney, Immigrant Legal Resource Center
Betty Gabaldon, Concord Organizer Manager, East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy
Tony Bravo, Executive Director, United Latino Voices
Devin Williams, 3rd Vice President, East Contra Costa County NAACP Executive Committee and Vice Chairperson, Antioch Police Oversight Commission
Marifer Marina, Organizer, Monument Impact
Katie Ricklefs, Chair, Democratic Party of Contra Costa
Where: 1025 Escobar Street, Martinez
When: 9:30 am on Tuesday, August 11th
By law California is already a sanctuary state as, according to iceoutofca.org, “California has long enacted laws that restrict state and local law enforcement from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in immigration enforcement actions. The most significant of these is the California Values Act (SB 54), which took effect on January 1, 2018,” which “protects the safety and wellbeing of all Californians by limiting use of state and local resources for mass deportations and ensures that important institutions such as schools, health facilities, and courthouses remain accessible to everyone. SB 54 remains legally binding state law, and states and localities continue to have the constitutional right to opt out of federal immigration enforcement.
In addition, the County complies with other state laws regarding law enforcement dealing with undocumented immigrants illegally residing in the U.S. They include:
- “TRUTH Act (AB 2792, 2017) – Requires local law enforcement to provide “Know Your Rights” information and copies of ICE holds, notifications, or transfer requests to individuals affected.
- “TRUST Act (AB 4, 2014) – Prohibits local jails from holding individuals beyond the time ICE requests, with some exceptions.”
As previously reported, the Board of Supervisors will hold its annual state TRUTH Act Community Forum to discuss civil immigration enforcement activities during their regular meeting at 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026.
Allen D. Payton contributed to this report.
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