Immigration Policy in Sacramento, CA: What Residents Actually Need to Know

Sacramento maintains 183 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with immigration policy. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Sacramento falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

Sanctuary Policy Preemption

Sacramento adopted Resolution 2017-100 declaring sanctuary status. City officers may not use Sacramento resources to enforce federal civil immigration law, layered atop California's TRUST Act and SB 54 statewide values protections.

Key details: City policy: Resolution 2017-100. State values act: Govt. Code 7284. TRUST Act: Govt. Code 7282.5. Adopted: February 2017.

No criminal penalties attach to residents. Officers or agencies violating the resolution or SB 54 may face administrative discipline, civil litigation by the California Attorney General, and Public Records Act audits of compliance.

The rules around sanctuary policy preemption in Sacramento lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

E-Verify Mandates

Sacramento and California do not require employers to use the federal E-Verify system. California Labor Code Section 1019.1 actually limits abusive E-Verify use, and AB 450 restricts voluntary employer cooperation with worksite immigration enforcement.

Key details: E-Verify mandate: None. Misuse rule: Lab. Code 1019.1. Worksite access: AB 450. Civil penalties: Up to 10,000 dollars.

Employer violations of AB 450 carry civil penalties of 2,000 to 10,000 dollars per violation, enforced by the California Labor Commissioner. Misuse of E-Verify under Section 1019.1 exposes employers to civil suits and Labor Commissioner orders.

Sacramento is more permissive than most cities when it comes to e-verify mandates. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Sacramento gives residents more room on immigration policy. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

This guide is based on Sacramento's current municipal code. Local rules can and do change, so check the individual ordinance pages for the latest details, penalties, and FAQs.