City of Palo Alto Advances Protections Restricting ICE Facility Construction

PALO ALTO, CA – Today, Bay Area Congressman Sam Liccardo (CA-16), congratulated the City of Palo Alto for adopting an interim ordinance that temporarily restricts the development of ICE detention facilities within their jurisdiction.

“ICE detention centers have no place in our neighborhoods, and local leaders don't need to wait until one opens to take action,” said Liccardo. “By acting now, Palo Alto joins a growing coalition of Bay Area communities using local land-use authority to protect their communities by restricting DHS from converting commercial or industrial properties into detention centers. I thank and commend Mayor Vicki Veenker and her colleagues on the Palo Alto City Council for expanding this regional effort to protect our communities.”

Liccardo, who represents portions of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, released a toolkit in August to help local governments use zoning laws and building regulations to mitigate the expansion of ICE detention facilities and safeguard community health and safety. The cities of San José,Mountain View, and Gilroy,  along with the counties of San Mateo, Monterey, and Napa have already advanced such ordinances. Several other city councils have now directed their staff to begin this process, and several more ordinance changes are in the pipeline.  

“Palo Alto is proud to take proactive steps to protect the health, safety, and well-being of our residents,” said Palo Alto Mayor Vicki Veenker. “By adopting this temporary ordinance, we join cities and counties across the Bay Area in using our local authority to protect our neighbors and restrict the development of ICE detention facilities in our community.”

Because county ordinances only govern unincorporated land, Liccardo encourages cities and towns throughout the region to consider adopting their own protections. Local leaders interested in introducing protections can utilize Liccardo’s ordinance toolkit or call his office at 408-245-2339 with questions.