Santa Rosa Residents Urge City to Shield Police Data from ICE

Readers raise concerns over potential exploitation of local surveillance systems by federal immigration agencies.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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In a series of letters to the editor, Santa Rosa residents are calling on the city to establish policies that would prevent federal immigration officers from accessing the city's police database and other surveillance systems. The residents argue that this data could be exploited by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target and detain members of the immigrant community.

Why it matters

This issue highlights the ongoing tension between local law enforcement's data collection and the potential misuse of that information by federal immigration authorities. Santa Rosa residents are concerned that unfettered access to local surveillance systems could undermine trust between immigrant communities and the police, potentially discouraging cooperation and reporting of crimes.

The details

The letters reference a recent announcement by the Santa Rosa City Council to examine potential policy reforms that would prevent ICE from using city property for enforcement operations. Residents argue that the city's nearly $1 million Real Time Crime Center, funded by a congressional earmark, is a valuable data trove that ICE could exploit. They call for the city to heed previous calls by local civil rights groups to establish a thoughtful and effective city ordinance on surveillance technology.

  • In 2024, The Press Democrat echoed calls by the Sonoma ACLU Chapter and Santa Rosa-Sonoma NAACP Branch for Santa Rosa to establish a city ordinance on surveillance technology.
  • On February 12, 2026, the Santa Rosa City Council announced it would examine potential policy reforms to prevent ICE from using city property for enforcement operations.

The players

Jim Duffy

A Rohnert Park resident who argues that Santa Rosa should establish policies to prevent federal immigration agencies from exploiting local surveillance systems and databases.

Andrew Smith

A Santa Rosa resident who expresses concerns about the proposed billionaire tax, arguing that it could lead to wealthy individuals leaving the state and a resulting loss of tax revenue for California.

Jim Owen Jr.

A Santa Rosa resident who argues that Native American tribes should finance the reacquisition of their ancestral lands, rather than relying on taxpayer-funded agencies like the Wildlife Conservation Board.

Kris Abrahamson

A Santa Rosa resident who urges readers to contact their U.S. senators to support an independent inquiry into the EPA's decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas endangerment finding.

Rep. Mike Thompson

A U.S. Representative who secured a $1 million congressional earmark for Santa Rosa's Real Time Crime Center.

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What they’re saying

“Surveillance endangers immigrant communities. Across our country, federal immigration agencies have eagerly exploited local databases rich with information collected by municipal agencies and police departments. This information is fed into a deportation machine that tears apart immigrant communities.”

— Jim Duffy, Rohnert Park resident (The Press Democrat)

“We know that there is no such thing as a temporary tax in California. How many of those targeted for this new tax pay the yearly 13.3% state income tax? If they leave, the state loses out on the annual income tax bonanza from the rich.”

— Andrew Smith, Santa Rosa resident (The Press Democrat)

What’s next

The Santa Rosa City Council is expected to further discuss potential policy reforms to prevent ICE from accessing local surveillance systems at an upcoming meeting.

The takeaway

This issue highlights the ongoing tension between local law enforcement's data collection and the potential misuse of that information by federal immigration authorities, underscoring the need for thoughtful policies that balance public safety and the protection of immigrant communities.