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Immigration Policy

How Sacramento Handles Immigration Policy: A Practical Guide

By CityRuleLookup Editorial Team

Sacramento maintains 188 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.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Sacramento actively enforces its sanctuary policy preemption requirements.

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.

The Bottom Line

Sacramento's immigration policy rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Sacramento is broadly strict or permissive.

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.