Santa Clara Passes Anti-ICE Policy Ahead of Super Bowl LX

City council unanimously approves measure prohibiting cooperation with federal immigration agency during major event.

Feb. 4, 2026 at 2:15pm

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The Santa Clara City Council unanimously passed a policy prohibiting city cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a special meeting on February 3. The policy aims to discourage ICE from staging, processing, or establishing an operations base in the city during Super Bowl LX, which Santa Clara is hosting. The policy borrows from similar policies in other cities, but city officials acknowledged it may not fully address Santa Clara's unique needs.

Why it matters

The move comes amid growing concerns from the immigrant community about ICE's enforcement activities, particularly around high-profile events. Santa Clara is seeking to take a visible stand against ICE's actions, which some see as blurring the line between lawful activity and intimidation, while also acknowledging the limits of the city's authority to prevent federal immigration enforcement.

The details

The policy prohibits the use of city facilities, parking garages, and open spaces owned or controlled by the city for ICE operations. It also requires the city to provide 'Know Your Rights' pamphlets. The mechanism for enforcement would be a civil injunction. The policy does not apply to city property subject to an existing lease, nor does it limit 'lawful judicial warrants or enforcement of criminal law'.

  • The Santa Clara City Council passed the anti-ICE policy at a special meeting on February 3, 2026.
  • Super Bowl LX is scheduled to take place in Santa Clara later in 2026.

The players

Santa Clara City Council

The governing body of the city of Santa Clara, California, which unanimously passed the anti-ICE policy.

Kevin Park

A Santa Clara City Council member who hastily agendized the discussion of the anti-ICE policy at the council's previous meeting.

Jovan Grogan

The Santa Clara City Manager, who told the council the policy borrowed largely from similar policies in other cities and may not fully address Santa Clara's unique needs.

Glen Googins

The Santa Clara City Attorney, who explained the details of the policy and the mechanism for enforcement.

Albert Gonzalez

The Santa Clara Vice Mayor, who said the policy is a response to concerns from the immigrant community that are grounded in real experiences and a deep distrust of immigration enforcement.

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What they’re saying

“With that visibility comes responsibility, where residents deserve clarity, protection within the limits of the law and a local government that acts decisively instead of symbolically. This moment requires more than reassurance. It requires visible action that is legally sound, operationally feasible and responsive to the lived reality of our residents.”

— Albert Gonzalez, Santa Clara Vice Mayor (svvoice.com)

“There is no such thing as a necessary cooperation for civil immigration enforcement. You cannot take the profit of black excellence and pay it back to the community with terror.”

— Sean Allen, President of Silicon Valley NAACP (svvoice.com)

What’s next

The city will continue to refine the anti-ICE policy as the FIFA World Cup approaches later in 2026.

The takeaway

Santa Clara's new anti-ICE policy, while limited in its scope, represents a visible stand by the city against federal immigration enforcement activities, particularly around high-profile events. However, the policy's effectiveness and the city's ability to protect immigrant residents remain uncertain.