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Taking a cue from neighboring jurisdictions, Mountain View is considering adopting a policy that would ban federal immigration authorities from using city property.
In a split 5-2 vote last week, the City Council asked staff to develop a resolution that would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement from utilizing public property for civil immigration enforcement. It would not apply to enforcing criminal laws. Council members Chris Clark and John McAlister cast the dissenting votes at the May 26 meeting.
The policy would apply to city properties, including parks, parking lots, garages, vacant lots, open space and city buildings, Mountain View spokesperson Brian Babcock told the Voice. The idea is to prevent the sites from being used as staging areas, processing locations or operations bases, he said.
Council member Ellen Kamei broached the topic in response to heightened community fears over President Donald Trump’s campaign to detain and deport immigrants. The number of immigration detention centers in California has increased to eight, up from six at the start of 2025. There also are plans to add a detention facility in Dublin and another one in an unincorporated part of Santa Clara County near Gilroy.
“People in our community are scared right now,” said Erik Poicon, a Mountain View resident who is currently running for City Council. “Our city spaces should be places where people feel safe, not places where they have to worry about being targeted or separated from their families.”
The council majority expressed support for a proposal to curtail the presence of ICE agents in Mountain View. Other jurisdictions and agencies in the region that have already adopted, or are working on, similar policies include Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose and Campbell, as well as Santa Clara County and the Valley Transportation Authority.
“We’re not the first jurisdiction contemplating this issue,” Council member Lucas Ramirez said. “There is a regional effort to explore any opportunity available to protect members of our community who are actively being targeted and feel vulnerable.”
Clark and McAlister pushed back on the proposal, voicing concern that an anti-ICE policy could backfire and single out the city for increased immigration enforcement.
“I am hesitant to pursue any path or agendize a path that I think would actually cause more harm than good or provide a false sense of security,” Clark said.
He also noted that Mountain View is in close proximity to federal properties, including Shenandoah Square, which is owned by the U.S. Army, and Moffett Field, a former U.S. Navy base now owned and operated by NASA Ames Research Center. The city of Mountain View does not have any control over those areas, he said.
Council members did not discuss the details of the proposed policy, nor how Mountain View would enforce it. The City Council is expected to vote on the resolution at its June 23 meeting. If adopted, the policy would become effective immediately, according to City Attorney Jennifer Logue.
“We’re just trying to find our best ways to fight back, even if it doesn’t feel like it solves all the problems,” Mayor Emily Ann Ramos said. “But we’re at a point where every little bit counts.”
“Every little bit counts”.
Not sure if this even helps a little bit. These guys can set up a raid in Walmart parking it and there is not a thing the city can do about it. Grandstanding and creating a false sense of security for my gardener.