ICE Agents Barred From Using City Property In Fremont For Enforcement Operations

FREMONT, CA — Fremont officials approved a resolution that would turn city-owned or controlled property into "ICE-free zones."

In a unanimous vote, the Fremont City Council voted during its Tuesday meeting to go through the resolution, which would include creating signage and Know Your Rights pamphlets.

Fremont previously passed an ordinance making it a sanctuary city. Now it joins other Bay Area cities, including Berkeley, San Jose and Santa Clara, in passing a regulation meant to keep federal enforcement operations away from the city.

The resolution was introduced by Councilmember Desrie Campbell in May, who expressed concern for community members impacted by federal immigration enforcement.

Officials opted for a resolution rather than an ordinance because they wanted to enforce the rules and their stance quickly.

An ordinance would require at least two additional readings before being considered for adoption.

It's unclear exactly how many people in Fremont live in fear because of their immigration status. But nearly half of Fremont's residents were born outside of the United States.

It is also home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the United States, many of whom fled their country decades ago to seek refuge from turmoil.

Immigration enforcement by federal agents has impacted many California communities. Los Angeles went through a series of daily protests during the summer of 2025, when immigration enforcement in the county was rampant.

Reports of ICE agents near an Oakland school in November 2025 caused widespread panic. Officials later passed an executive order declaring agents couldn't use city-owned property for staging.

That same month, ICE agents showed up in Fremont and were seen knocking on the doors in the Sundale neighborhood, an area that is home to many Afghan refugees.

It's unclear if anyone was detained. Police, meanwhile, said at the time they were notified of the operation just shortly before the agents were set to arrive.

Around May, ICE agents pulled into the Fremont police station parking lot and began staging for an operation, authorities said.

It's unclear what that operation entailed, but they didn't notify any city officials or the police department that they'd be there, Fremont Chief of Police Floyd Mitchell said during the meeting on Tuesday.

Police only learned ICE agents were in the city when a sergeant drove through the parking lot and saw them, Mitchell said.

The department asked the agents to leave, and they did, Mitchell said.

Part of the focus of the regulation will be to ensure situations like these don't happen, city officials said.

Agents choosing to ignore the rules could violate the Fourth Amendment, which protects people from unreasonable search and seizures by the government, City Attorney Rafael Alvarado said.

Although the resolution doesn't change the city's municipal code, it still allows officials to direct staff to perform "certain functions relative to the policy," Alvarado said.

"It is not merely a policy statement," Alvardo said. "It, in fact, has regulatory authority."

Community members who spoke at the meeting all appeared in support, many commending officials for their efforts in bringing the resolution forward.

Some community members, however, have urged officials to adopt an ordinance instead. That could still be the case.

In her motion to approve the resolution, Campbell suggested officials take some time to study the results of the resolution before pursuing a change to the municipal code.