Richmond is doubling down on its sanctuary status. On Tuesday, the City Council moved to create “ICE-Free Zones” to shield immigrant residents from federal raids. City staff must report back by March 3 with a draft law.
The ordinance would ban the use of city buildings, staff, or equipment for federal immigration enforcement. It also calls for staff training, emergency plans including a rapid, multilingual alert system to warn residents of ICE activity, and clear signs on city property marking them as off-limits to ICE.
Councilmember Claudia Jimenez, one of the proposal’s sponsors, called immigration raids an “unnatural disaster” that requires the same level of planning as an earthquake.
“People are being murdered by militias and we need to be prepared,” Jimenez said, referencing the high-profile killings of two protesters by federal authorities in Minneapolis.
Supporters described a “reign of terror” in local neighborhoods. One librarian told the council that students are asking for “know-your-rights” cards instead of tutoring.
The plan faced some pushback. Councilmember Jamiela Brown warned against “over-promising” safety. She argued that labeling city property as an ICE-free zone might give residents a false sense of security, as the city cannot legally stop federal agents who have a valid warrant.
City Attorney Shannon Moore will now review the proposal to ensure it can stand up in court. The council is also considering rules that would require federal agents to show ID and forbid them from wearing masks on city property.
