Lynwood, CA Immigration Policy: Sanctuary Policy Preemption (2026)

Section 3-37, Procedures for the Protection of Sensitive Information and Use of City Resources, states the city's intent to build on California's SB 54 by refusing to divert limited city resources to immigration detention or deportation efforts except as required by federal law. Section 3-37.2 defines "sensitive information" broadly to include name, address, citizenship or immigration status, Social Security number, employer information, and 26 other categories of personal data. Under § 3-37.3, the city cannot request, collect, or disclose sensitive information to immigration authorities, and vendors handling city data must disclose their data-sharing policies, subject to an annual audit reported by June 30.

Section 3-37.4 bars using city resources, including personnel, to identify, detain, interrogate, or transfer individuals for immigration enforcement, to give immigration authorities non-public access without a judicial warrant, or to participate in joint immigration operations, unless a lawfully issued judicial warrant or subpoena requires it. Section 3-37.5 prohibits new or extended city contracts with companies that provide data-broker or extreme-vetting services to immigration authorities, and requires every city contract to include clauses barring such disclosure, with violations treated as a material breach allowing the city to terminate.

A waiver of the contracting restriction requires city council approval by minute order (§ 3-37.6), and the designated administrative agency must investigate complaints and report annually to the council on compliance by June 30 (§ 3-37.7).