Phoenix City Council to Consider Policy Restricting ICE Use of City Property

The Phoenix City Council is scheduled to consider a policy that would restrict federal immigration authorities from using city-owned property without prior approval from city officials, according to the city council agenda.

The proposal is part of a broader “Community Transparency Initiative,” ordered by Mayor Kate Gallego in February, as previously reported by California Globe, and is expected to be taken up at the council’s March 25 meeting. If adopted, it would prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other civil enforcement agencies from using city property as staging areas or operational sites without authorization from the city manager or a designated official.

The directive called for developing policies to restrict the use of city property for enforcement operations, document potential civil rights violations, collect data on impacts to city services, and provide training for city employees who may encounter federal agents. 

The draft policy states that “City-Owned and City-Controlled property may be used only for authorized City purposes” and identifies civil enforcement activity as a prohibited use unless approved by the city manager or a designee. 

Under the proposal, Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher would be responsible for approving or denying requests from federal agencies, with Phoenix Police Chief Matt Giordano serving as a liaison to outside law enforcement entities.

The policy outlines several operational requirements for city departments, including identifying properties that could be used for enforcement activity, implementing access controls, and posting signage stating that civil law enforcement use is not permitted without prior written authorization.

City employees who become aware of unauthorized use of city property would be required to document and report the activity, while being directed not to “engage, obstruct, or impede” federal agents. 

Exceptions included in the proposal would allow federal agents to operate on city property when executing a judicial warrant or in exigent circumstances such as pursuing a fleeing suspect. The policy would not apply to certain facilities, including Phoenix Municipal Court buildings, city airports, and properties controlled by third-party entities. 

Discussing complaints associated with the Initiative, the city council agenda cited potential response from the Phoenix Police Department using body-worn cameras and drones, stating, 

“Regarding active, emergency incidents, if a member of the community believes a crime is actively being committed by a federal agent acting outside the scope of their duties, or they would like to verify the identity of a law enforcement officer, they should call 911 for immediate assistance. If there is a situation that warrants intervention or criminal investigation, PPD will respond and investigate. PPD also has capabilities to document situations using technologies such as body-worn cameras and drones.”

If approved, the policy would remain in effect until March 2029. 

Supporting documents for the initiative also direct city staff to document and preserve information on federal immigration enforcement activities that may violate criminal statutes or civil rights, and to develop protocols for responding to such incidents. 

The proposal follows recent federal immigration enforcement activity in the Phoenix area, including operations at multiple Valley business locations that resulted in dozens of detentions. 

HAPPENING NOW: Anti-ICE protestors interrupt a Phoenix City Council work study session where staff is set to discuss directive to document federal immigration enforcement activities within city limits that could violate criminal statutes and/or individual civil rights. pic.twitter.com/2ipH3tsIMH

— Alexis Dominguez (@alexisdomm) February 10, 2026

City leaders first advanced the initiative during a contentious City Council work session on February 10, directing staff to develop a framework for what officials described as a response to increased federal enforcement activity and related community concerns. The session was repeatedly disrupted by Anti-ICE protestors