HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 289-07City Palo A to
C ty Manager’ Report
TO:
ATTN:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
POLICY AND SERVICES COMMITTEE 2
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: COMMUNITY SERVICES
ffULY 9, 2007 CMR: 289:07
REFERRAL TO THE CITY ATTORaNEY AND THEN TO POLICY AND
SERVICES COMMITTEE HUMAN RELATIONS COM3~ISSION
RECOMMENDATION TO THE CITY COU.~CIL TO ADOPT A
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE U.S.IMMIG1L,ATION AND
CUSTOM ENFORCEMENT AGENCY U,i~DER"OPERATION RETURN
TO SENDER"
RECOMMENDATION
The City- of Palo Alto’s Human Relations Commission (HRC) requests that that the City Council
refer to the City Attorney and then to Policy and Services Committee for review and
recommendations regarding adoption of a resolution condemning the use of certain tactics by the
U.S. Immi~ation and Custom Enforcement Agency under "Operation Return to Sender".
BACKGROUND
Federal Immi~ation and Customs Enforcement agents are identi~4ng themselves as local police
and entering homes and businesses without warrants. The attached resolution demands that the
Immi~ation and Customs Enforcement agents identify themselves as "Federal Agents" when
carrying out "Operation Return to Sender". The HRC believes that "Operation Return to
Sender" conflicts with the City, of Palo Alto’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance and the City’s
Anti-Discrimination Policy, Section 9.73.010. Statements of Policy:
a) Human Rights. It is the policy of the City of Palo Alto to affirm, support and protect the
human rights of every person within its jurisdiction. These rights include, but are not
limited to, equal economic, political, and educational opportunity; equal accommodations
in all business establishments in the City; and equal service and protection by all public
agencies of the City.
b) Freedom from Arbitrary Discrimination. It is the policy of the City- of Palo Alto to
protect and safega~ard the right and oppommity of every person to be free from arbitrary
discrimination on the basis of their race, s~n color, gender, age, religion, disability,
national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, housing status, marital status, familial status,
weight or height.
CMR:289:04 Page 1 of 2
The City of Palo Alto’s Anti-Discrimination Ordinance bans discrimination against people on the
basis of their national origin. The HRC believes that the CiD Council should go on record
adopting a resolution condemning the use of certain tactics, discrimination, exploitation and
repressive federal ira_migration enforcement and communicate its opposition in v~¢iting with a
copy of the adopted resolution to its congressional delegation.
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION
At its June 8, 2006 HRC meeting, Commissioners discussed and passed a resolution condemning
the U.S. Immi~ation and Custom Enforcement Agency’s "Operation Return to Sender" and
recommended that the City Council adopt a similar resolution.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A:Resolution Condemning the U.S. Immi~’ation and Custom Enforcement
Agency’s "Operation Return to Sender"
PREPARED BY:
I~THY ESPINOZA-HOWARD
Division Manager, Cubberley Center & Human
Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
RICHARD JAMES
Director of Community Ser¥ices
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
EMILY HARRISON
Assistant Ci~ Manager
CMR:289:04 Page 2 of 2
RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE USE OF UNLAWFUL ACTIONS BY THE U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY’S IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS
ENFORCEMENT BP~4NCH UNDER ~;OPERATION RETUP, N TO SENDER"
Whereas the Palo Alto City Comacil:
Respects and upholds the Constitutional rights of all its residents regardless of their
citizenship or visa status; and
Is committed to an envirorm~ent where all its residents are free from unlax~-ul,
um’easonable, and i~mmane federal immigration actions;
Is aware that agents of the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs
Enforcement Branch (ICE) separated Palo Alto parents from their ttvee children, all of
whom are United States citizens, deported the parents, and forced the parents to leave the
children in the United States without them or take the children with them, removing them
from their home, school, and health care environment;
ts concerned that actions of the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE branch, such as
agents identi~4ng themselves as local police and forcibly entering people’s homes and
businesses without warrants, could confuse and disrupt residents of Palo Alto and
undern~ine Palo Alto law enforcement’s relationship with Palo Alto residents;
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Palo Alto Ci~~ Council hereby condemns any and
all unlawful or discriminatory actions carried out under "Operation Return to Sender," or
other Department of Homeland Security’s ICE Branch operations upon its residents;
Be it further resolved that the Palo Alto City Council urges the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and Senators Barbara
Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, to denounce the Department of Homeland Security’s ICE
Branch use of any and all unlaw-ful or discriminator3~ actions carried out under
~Operation Return to Sender" or other operations upon its residents;
Be it further resolved that the Palo Alto City Council urges the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, and Senators Bm’bara
Boxer and Diatme Feinstein, to insist that ICE agents cease identifying themselves as
local police in carrying out "Operation Return to Sender;"
Be it further resolved that the Palo Alto City Council send copies of this resolution to the
above mentioned federal government representatives.