Subject: Resolution In Support Of AB 1537 (Bryan) From: Councilmember Brown Recommendation: Adopt A Resolution In Support Of California Assembly Bill 1537 (Bryan) Which Would (1) Prohibit California Peace Officers From Working Or Volunteering For Any Entity That Engages In Immigration Enforcement, (2) Establish Failure To Comply With That Restriction As Grounds For Decertification As A Peace Officer, (3) Require Peace Officers To Report Any Secondary Employment Related To Immigration Enforcement, And (4) Require That Records Related To Secondary Employment Of Peace Officers Be Public Records

This item is a resolution by Councilmember Brown supporting California Assembly Bill (AB) 1537. The bill, introduced by Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, aims to prohibit California peace officers from working, contracting, or volunteering for any entity engaged in immigration enforcement. Key provisions of AB 1537 include:

• Prohibition: Peace officers cannot be employed by, contract with, or volunteer for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or any other entity involved in immigration enforcement.
• Reporting Requirement: Peace officers must report any secondary employment related to immigration enforcement to their employing agency.
• Decertification: Failure to comply with the secondary employment restriction will be grounds for decertification as a peace officer.
• Public Records: Records related to secondary employment of peace officers will be considered public records under the California Public Records Act.

The resolution notes that Oakland has a Sanctuary City Ordinance and that increased federal immigration enforcement efforts have destabilized immigrant communities. It argues that allowing peace officers to engage in immigration enforcement while off-duty, using sensitive information they access, puts immigrants at risk. Supporting AB 1537 is seen as a way for Oakland to better embody its Sanctuary City status by ensuring peace officers' secondary employment does not conflict with protecting immigrant communities. The City Council is recommended to adopt this resolution and direct the City Administrator to distribute it to the Governor and Assemblymember Bryan.

This resolution supports state legislation that would prevent local peace officers from engaging in immigration enforcement activities during their off-duty hours. It aims to increase trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement by ensuring sensitive information is not used for federal immigration enforcement and would make records of such secondary employment public.

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