Marin supervisors to weigh limits on federal immigration enforcement
At its Oct. 20 meeting the Board of Supervisors will consider barring federal immigration agencies from using county property for enforcement operations and tightening rules on information sharing.
SAN RAFAEL: The Marin County Board of Supervisors will consider a proposal at its Oct. 20 meeting that would prohibit federal immigration agencies from using county property for enforcement operations, tighten the rules on sharing confidential county information, and require county staff to report interactions with federal immigration officials. The county announced the proposal Oct. 9, framing it as a response to stepped-up federal immigration enforcement in Marin and nationwide.
If adopted, the proposal would bar federal immigration agencies from using county-owned or controlled property as staging areas, processing locations or bases of operations for immigration enforcement, except where required by law. It would require federal immigration officials seeking access to nonpublic county facilities to present a judicial warrant or other legally sufficient authority. It would also reinforce existing restrictions on sharing confidential county-held information for federal immigration enforcement, consistent with state and federal law.
"People need to be able to turn to their local government for services and support," said County Executive Derek Johnson. "We have a responsibility to protect that trust and be clear about what the County can and cannot do." The county said the proposal comes amid increased federal immigration enforcement raising concerns about constitutional protections, due process and the impact on immigrant families.
The proposal builds on spending the board has already approved. In 2026, the Board of Supervisors allocated an additional $1 million for immigration legal services, emergency assistance and the Marin Rapid Response Network, bringing its two-year investment to $1.5 million, the county said. The Public Defender's Office also added an immigration attorney to expand its defense capacity.
The county has also been active in court. It is a plaintiff in San Francisco versus Trump, a federal lawsuit challenging the administration's efforts to withhold or condition federal funding based on local policies that limit participation in federal civil immigration enforcement. In June 2026, the board authorized the county to join an amicus brief supporting Santa Clara County and the State of California's legal challenge to a proposed federal immigration detention facility near Gilroy.
Community meeting Oct. 19
Ahead of the board vote, Canal Alliance will host a free community meeting Oct. 19 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on the county's proposed Non-Collaboration (Sanctuary) Ordinance. The San Rafael nonprofit, which serves the county's immigrant community, said the session will cover the proposal's potential impacts and invite participants to share perspectives to inform the county's decision. The meeting will be offered in English and Spanish, with a remote option.
The board takes up the proposal at its regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 20, at 9 a.m. in Board Chambers, Room 330, at the Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael. The public can attend in person or participate remotely by Zoom or phone. The county said meeting materials, participation instructions and information about providing public comment are available on the Board of Supervisors meetings webpage, and that immigration legal assistance and other support resources are listed on the county's Immigrant Rights and Resources webpage.
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