As ICE Arrests Rise, Marin County Takes A New Approach But Advocates Say It's Not Enough

MARIN COUNTY, CA — Marin County supervisors temporarily banned the development of new detention facilities in unincorporated areas of the county on Tuesday, but immigration advocates said the measure doesn't go far enough to address federal enforcement activity already taking place in the community.

The Board of Supervisors approved an urgency ordinance Tuesday establishing an immediate 45-day moratorium on the siting, construction, conversion, expansion or operation of new or expanded detention facilities, whether publicly or privately operated.

The board could extend the moratorium for up to two years if necessary.

The measure came as more than 50 residents gathered outside the Marin County Civic Center and more than 100 attended the board meeting to demand stronger restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the No ICE in Marin Coalition, which organized the demonstration.

The coalition supports the temporary moratorium but argues that county leaders should focus on preventing ICE agents from using existing county property, including the Civic Center and county jail, to conduct immigration enforcement.

“We’re glad the Board of Supervisors has suddenly realized they can move quickly and decisively to respond to an urgent community need,” said Curt Ries of the Marin Democratic Socialists of America and the No ICE in Marin Coalition.

“But the true emergency our county faces right now is ICE’s terror campaign targeting our immigrant neighbors,” Ries said. “We need an ICE-Free law that bans ICE from county property like the jail lobby and parking lot, where ICE is abducting our neighbors.”

County officials said the moratorium will provide time to strengthen local land-use policies addressing potential environmental impacts, demands on water and sewer systems, transportation and emergency services, zoning conflicts and the county's housing shortage.

The ordinance applies only to areas where Marin County has land-use authority. It does not prevent federal immigration enforcement or shut down existing detention facilities.

Similar measures have been adopted in Gilroy and Dublin, where federal detention facility proposals have raised concerns.

The moratorium follows the board's Oct. 20 adoption of a separate policy restricting the use of county property, resources and confidential information for federal immigration enforcement.

However, the No ICE in Marin Coalition argued that the policy lacks binding restrictions on ICE agents using publicly accessible county property, such as parking lots and building lobbies.

The group is calling on supervisors to adopt an ordinance that would prohibit the use of county property, resources, data and personnel for federal immigration enforcement.

According to the Marin Rapid Response Network, ICE has detained 77 Marin residents since March 2025, including 59 in 2026.

The organization also reported that 18 Marin residents were detained in October alone and that 18 residents have been deported since March 2025.

Susan Morgan of Indivisible Marin and the No ICE in Marin Coalition said Tuesday's meeting drew residents from across the community, including students, religious leaders and volunteer legal observers.

“Today the Marin Board of Supervisors heard heartfelt pleas from a diverse range of residents,” Morgan said. “I hope these pleas did not fall on deaf ears, and that the Supervisors will act on December 8 to urgently adopt an ICE-Free Ordinance in Marin County.”

The coalition wants supervisors to return Dec. 8 with a binding ordinance providing stronger restrictions on federal immigration enforcement.

California's Values Act, also known as Senate Bill 54, already limits cooperation between state and local law enforcement agencies and federal immigration authorities. Local governments can adopt additional restrictions.

The No ICE in Marin Coalition said it has organized thousands of petition signatures and mobilized residents to attend county meetings since fall 2025.

The Board of Supervisors has not announced whether it will consider the coalition's proposed ordinance on Dec. 8.