Richmond City Council directs staff to draft ICE-free zone ordinance

The Richmond City Council voted Tuesday to direct city officials to develop an ordinance prohibiting the use of city property and resources for federal immigration enforcement, expanding on existing sanctuary city policies amid heightened concerns about federal enforcement actions.

The council voted 6-0, with one abstention, to instruct the city manager and city attorney to return within 45 days with a proposed ICE-free zone ordinance. The measure, introduced by Councilmember Claudia Jimenez and Vice Mayor Doria Robinson, would restrict the use of city-owned property, facilities, personnel, and resources for federal civil immigration enforcement.

Jimenez explained that the proposed ordinance would build on the city’s existing sanctuary policies by designating city properties as off-limits for federal enforcement and establishing communication protocols. The proposal includes two distinct components: the ICE-free zone ordinance itself and an implementation plan for how the city would respond to large-scale enforcement actions.

“We have seen what is happening in other cities, and we want to be prepared,” Jimenez said. “This is providing a clear set of procedures so we are all together, knowing how the city is going to respond.”

Jimenez stressed the urgency of the measure based on events unfolding nationally.

“This is real. This is happening in other cities. People are being murdered by militias, and we need to be prepared,” Jimenez said. “What we hear from the community is that this is adding more to what we have, so we can send a clear message to our immigrant community and region, that we are here to do whatever it takes to make sure that in difficult times like this, we protect our community.”

Vice Mayor Robinson emphasized the extraordinary nature of the current circumstances and cited specific federal policy discussions that heightened concerns.

“I do believe that we are living in a time that we have not seen before, that what is happening in our country is extreme,” Robinson said. They’re bringing this budget forward to say whether or not there’s going to be funds for the Department of Homeland Security, one of the items that was being bandied back and forth with whether or not ICE would be able to deport us citizens.”

According to the staff report, recent events in other jurisdictions, including National Guard deployments in Minneapolis and curfews imposed in Los Angeles, highlighted the need for enhanced local preparedness. Cities such as Chicago have implemented similar ICE-Free Zone policies with clear signage on city property and physical access controls.

During public comment, multiple residents urged the council to move forward with the ordinance without delay.

Andrew Melendez, a Richmond resident and member of Reimagine Richmond, said his organization had been conducting Know Your Rights training and connecting with immigrant families and business owners.

“We’ve heard the same thing time and time again, which is that there continues to be so much panic in the community right now, right now is a time for our city to step up and ensure that Richmond stands with the immigrants,” Melendez said. “What this agenda item represents is a strengthening of the existing protections through our sanctuary ordinance, by providing signage, creating reporting protocols, staff training, and ultimately ensuring that the city is preparing for ice activity in the future.”

Richmond Municipal Code Chapter 2.30 already prohibits the use of city property to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law. The city adopted sanctuary ordinances in March 2025 and has allocated $1 million to support immigrant communities with legal aid.

The measure raised concerns among council members about the proposal's breadth and the need for careful vetting.

Councilmember Jamelia Brown, who ultimately abstained from the vote, expressed support for ICE-free zones but raised questions about the scope and implementation details.

“I don’t oppose ICE-free zones, so let’s be clear, but I am concerned that labeling city property as ICE-free zones could unintentionally create fear, confusion, and false expectations if residents believe ICE cannot enter into these spaces where they legally can,” Brown said. “So I want to understand more on what we can legally do versus selling something to the community that’s not even true.”

Brown also expressed concerns about mass communication alerts and the potential for misinterpretation.

“If we send out mass text alerts, city-wide alerts, we’ll all have different interpretations of what those text messages mean,’ Brown said. “I just want to make sure that we are not over-promising protections that we can’t legally guarantee.”

Brown said she wanted to ensure each component of the ordinance received proper evaluation. “I am concerned that the scope seems so broad, and I just want to make sure that we’re able to discuss each component that’s put into this ordinance.”

The new ordinance would establish non-cooperation and resource-denial policies, including refusing deputization and denying logistical support to federal immigration enforcement beyond what is legally required. It would also direct city departments to identify applicable properties, install signage, and implement access controls where feasible.

City officials are scheduled to report back to the council on March 3 regarding the city’s ongoing and planned efforts related to federal civil immigration enforcement actions.

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