Santa Barbara Mayor Addresses ICE Concerns

Rowse calls for clarity, consistency, and respect for civil rights in immigration enforcement.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 1:07pm

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The mayor of Santa Barbara, Randy Rowse, has issued a statement addressing the confusion and fear caused by recent activities of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the city. Rowse emphasized that while laws must be upheld, the city's police department does not aid or interfere with ICE operations, and officers are subject to strict conduct rules and civilian oversight. The mayor called for a return to a policy of federal enforcement assistance only upon request or declared emergency, stating that top-down governance is undesirable.

Why it matters

This statement from the Santa Barbara mayor reflects the ongoing tensions and concerns around immigration enforcement at the local level, as cities and states seek to balance upholding the law with protecting the civil rights of all residents.

The details

In his statement, Mayor Rowse clarified that while the city's police department takes its oath and training seriously, officers are not empowered to enforce identification requirements on ICE officers or interfere with federal law enforcement. Rowse also emphasized the careful selection and training of the city's police force, in contrast to what he sees as lacking in current ICE operations.

  • The statement was issued on January 30, 2026.

The players

Randy Rowse

The mayor of Santa Barbara, California.

Santa Barbara Police Department

The local law enforcement agency in Santa Barbara, which Rowse says is subject to strict conduct rules and civilian oversight.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The federal agency responsible for immigration enforcement, whose recent activities in Santa Barbara have caused confusion and fear among residents.

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What they’re saying

“Our laws and the rule of law must be upheld and enforced with clarity and consistency, and with respect to the civil rights of all.”

— Randy Rowse, Mayor of Santa Barbara

“Our individual states and civic agencies must be allowed to maintain order in our own communities. We must return to the policy of federal enforcement assistance only on request or declared emergency. We've all grown weary of top-down governance and more is not desirable.”

— Randy Rowse, Mayor of Santa Barbara

The takeaway

This statement from the Santa Barbara mayor highlights the ongoing challenges of balancing immigration enforcement with protecting the civil rights and local autonomy of communities, as cities and states seek to find the right approach in a complex and politically charged issue.