A growing wave of public concern over immigration enforcement tactics came to a head this week in Santa Barbara, where hundreds of individuals submitted comments urging the city’s police department to adopt stronger protections against collaboration with the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
During the Santa Barbara City Council meeting on July 16, residents submitted written public comments. They turned out in person to voice fears about racial profiling, family separation, and lack of trust in law enforcement. This was discussed in particular with respect to immigrant and Latino communities. The protests have grown exponentially in response to recent actions by the Santa Barbara Police Department (SBPD) that critics argue align with federal immigration enforcement, despite the city’s sanctuary status.
Highlights
- On Tuesday, July 16, 2025, residents of Santa Barbara County gathered to discuss the aftermath of the horrific ICE raids throughout the county.
- Hundreds of public comments were submitted before the meeting, signaling widespread alarm over the SBPD’s lack of a clear policy limiting cooperation with ICE.
- Advocates argued that residents are less likely to report crimes or cooperate with police investigations if they fear being held by the immigration enforcement system.
Santa Barbara Residents Are Rallying to Keep ICE Out of Their Community
One recurring theme in the comments was the fear of losing family members, being racially targeted, and suffering retaliation for speaking out. Commenters described feeling “unsafe” in their own neighborhoods.
“I want everyone who lives in Santa Barbara County to feel safe to live and work here and pursue their goals,” said one resident, whose testimony echoed dozens of others. Many pointed out that the city’s sanctuary designation was meaningless without enforcement mechanisms or police policy to support it.
Another letter submitted read, “We are counting on you to stand up for our beloved Santa Barbara and the United States of America. Please, do not fail us.”
Police Chief Kelly Gordon also chimed in stating that the department does not directly serve the federal government. She emphasized that the department’s responsibility is to protect everyone regardless of their citizenship status and assured residents that police will respond to any 9-1-1 calls if ICE agents show up.
Since these raids have broken out, Primitiva Hernandez, executive director of the 805 Undocufund, has been at the helm of all efforts to spread information about ICE raids to protect the community. During the special town hall, she sat at the head of the table of Franklin Community Center with Mayor Randy Rowse, City Administrator Kelly McAdoo, and Police Chief Kelly Gordon.
The meeting concluded with the City Council agreeing to place further discussion on the agenda for future meetings, indicating that this debate is far from over. Councilmember Meagan Harmon also called for an emergency declaration for funding 805 Undocufund. The city staff will discuss this move over the next few days and potentially hold a council meeting to enforce this action over the next week.
Related Articles
https://www.edhat.com/news/santa-barbara-hosts-town-hall-on-immigration-enforcement-pledges-support-for-immigrant-community/
https://www.edhat.com/news/residents-speak-out-at-santa-barbara-county-supervisor-meeting-demanding-clarity-on-ice-raids/
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Your kid works for ICE? You are an awful, pathetic person
Resist the fascist, racist bigots!
If you’re illegal you should feel uncomfortable. That’s a real law and has been for years . Fact check that!!
Fact check an absurdity posted by an idiot?
There is no law against being present in the U.S. without documentation.
There are, however, laws against raping children and covering it up like the guy you voted for.
So funny to see Democrats afraid that all their rule breaking finally has consequences. If you’re illegal you broke the law. It’s time to face the consequences. Gavin and anyone who feels “unsafe” is a traitor.
While you defend Trump and vast numbers of other right wing law breakers. You racist maggots aren’t fooling anyone.
Illegals are afraid because they know they broke the law. There are many of us in the “community “ that don’t agree with harboring people who broke the law. Period.
Dishonest racist sociopath.
Hammonds – How nice for you to be able to see the whole world as either black or white. It avoids having to think, and, I assume, lets you sleep at night. Hopefully someday you’ll wake up. There are a whole lot of shades of grey out there.
Period? Let me say it again since you completely ignored what you responded to: “While you defend Trump and vast numbers of other right wing law breakers. You racist maggots aren’t fooling anyone.”
LOL—you worship a literal proven rapist and likely pedophile—but you go off about the law.
Hammonds,
It’s only a civil misdemeanor not at all like the 34 FELONIES that your orange crime boss was found guilty of in a court of law by a jury of his peers. Oh, and he’s also an adjudicated rapist.
Your moral outrage holds no weight until you come to terms with truth of the person you revere as your leader.
Some of us in the “communtity” as you put it, don’t agree with harboring a convicted felon in the People’s House.
DALDRICH You should re-read your posts before you put them up. It could save a lot of embarrassment. Throwing around words like “traitor” in this case only displays your ignorance. At least do some research on the words you use if you don’t understand them. Try it — maybe people won’t immediately dismiss your ramblings, as they do now.
DALDRICH – like the pardoned Jan 6 cop beaters did? Like your rapey felon president who was besties with a child rapist did?
If you’re in the united states illegally you should not feel safe. It’s unconscionable to think that if you sneak into a country you’re safe.
The GOP is a terror organization led by the Project 2025 puppet Donald Trump. The Trump cult followers are.much like ISIS, supporting initiatives that cause their own people harm. It is beyond sad that Trump cultists and enablers live in so much fear that they have become incapable of creative thought.
As long as Donald Jackass Trump is President every brown skinned person in America is not safe, regardless of their citizenship. Same for anyone who comes here to study and speaks their mind about fascism and humanity. Same for anyone who for no fault of their own becomes dependent on Medicaid, SNAP, or is insecure about food. Same for anyone living near toxic materials deposited by greedy and irresponsible industries. Same for many farmers and manufacturers who use imported materials for their products. Same for anyone without a strong education. Same for just about any child in a public school going through active shooter drills.
No, as long as that diaper-draped a-hole is sitting in our White House, the only people “safe” in America are those protected by their whitish skin and a good deal of money.