North County Report: Vista Approves ‘Sanctuary City’ Policies in Heated Meeting 

A Vista City Council meeting on Tuesday had a historic turnout and heated discussions between the mayor and councilmembers over its new “sanctuary city” policies. 

Vista is the latest city in the region to approve a set of policies in response to a recent surge in arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE, under the Trump administration. 

Many are calling Vista’s new rules “sanctuary city” policies, including Vista’s Mayor John Franklin, who spent the days and hours leading up to the meeting denouncing the resolution made by his council colleagues, who he called “radical extremists.” 

A “sanctuary city” is typically one that limits local law enforcement’s cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. 

Councilmembers Dan O’Donnell, Corinna Contreras and Katie Melendez proposed the resolution, which includes: 

• Implementing a “Know Your Rights” campaign and making a city-backed website with the same information. 

• Prohibiting federal law enforcement from conducting immigration enforcement in non-public city-owned or city-controlled properties without a warrant. 

• Ensuring future city contracts stipulate the prohibition of sharing sensitive information with immigration authorities unless required by law and requiring the same of city-collected information. 

The City Council voted 3-2, with Franklin and Councilmember Jeff Fox opposed. 

There Was a Lot of Tension 

Tuesday’s City Council meeting had one of the largest turnouts the city has seen at a council meeting, with more than 525 attendees. Dozens of people even showed up early to protest outside of City Hall in support of the policies. 

There was such a big showing that Franklin accused residents of being “bussed” to the meeting by the San Diego County Organizing Project, a network of multi-faith congregations that advocates for different causes — an accusation that so far has no evidence behind it. 

Franklin has been outspoken about his opposition to the set of policies, which is officially called the Community Safety and Due Process Resolution, since the resolution’s first reading back in September, where councilmembers similarly voted 3-2 to pass it. 

The Council downgraded the set of policies from an ordinance to a resolution. An ordinance is a local law and becomes part of the city’s code, while a resolution is a statement of policy or statement of position by the City Council, City Attorney Walter Chung said. 

Leading up to the meeting, Franklin posted on X, formerly Twitter, urging residents to speak out against “sanctuary policies” and the “radical extremists” on the council, O’Donnell, Contreras and Melendez. 

At the meeting, Franklin didn’t hold back. And neither did the other councilmembers. 

“It has become inescapably clear to me that the individuals who support this resolution in fact support an open border, they support an end to the concept of citizenship at large. They support the end of the enforcement of our laws,” Franklin said. 

While Franklin spoke, Councilmember Contreras held up an orange sign that said, “Keep Families Together.” 

More than 100 people gave public comment, both in person and online – most of them were supportive of the measure. But Franklin said at the meeting that polls he has been posting on the app Next Door show “1,500 members of this community… that do not support sanctuary policies.” 

“There may not be as many of them that showed up tonight as those who were bussed here for free pizza,” Franklin said. 

He also argued that the policy would put a target on Vista. 

“What we are doing is identifying the city of Vista, which will now be added to the administration’s list of sanctuary cities and we will now be targeted,” Franklin said. “The federal funding that we receive as a city will be in jeopardy because of this policy.” 

Councilmember O’Donnell disagreed, saying the resolution reaffirms policies that already exist on the city’s books. 

“This is not something that should put us on a sanctuary city list, and in no way does it prohibit law enforcement from doing their jobs,” O’Donnell said.  

He also accused Franklin of intentionally disrupting a town hall O’Donnell held to explain the resolution, and of misleading the public by claiming Sheriff Kelly Martinez advised him not to vote for it. The two then argued back and forth, raising their voices, interrupting each other and trading accusations about honesty and decorum. 

Councilmember Melendez also had words for the mayor. 

“I think it’s very dangerous for our mayor to be here lying and targeting our members of the community and saying that you were bussed here, accusing you of being paid protestors,” Melendez said. “I think it’s highly inappropriate and strange.” 

The meeting ended after almost six hours, with the resolution passing 3-2. 

Vista Isn’t the Only One 

A few other North County cities have already approved their own versions of policies pushing for reform in ICE enforcement practices. 

In September, Encinitas leaders re-approved a slew of actions, including launching a “Know Your Rights” campaign, submitting a request for federal records of ICE activity in the city and potentially joining lawsuits with other cities challenging ICE operations.   

Escondido took a more conservative approach. City leaders sent a “bipartisan” letter to the San Diego County congressional delegation back in August encouraging them to support things like clearer pathways to legal citizenship and increased resources for border security and immigration court systems.  

In Oceanside, the City Council majority rejected a “community trust resolution” that would express the city’s support for immigrant residents, instead opting to receive a staff report outlining similar actions previously taken by the city. 

I previously reported that there’s been an increase in ICE arrests in North County this year compared to last year, with Vista seeing the second-highest rate of ICE arrests in North County behind Escondido. Data also shows that ICE agents are increasingly arresting people who don’t have any criminal convictions or charges.   

In Other News 

• Encinitas is suing the developer of the Clark Avenue Apartments projects, seeking a ruling that the development violates fire safety regulations and to allow the city to withhold additional permits until the developer complies. (Coast News) 
• Palomar Health fired four OB/GYN doctors last month, leaving the hospital system with just one OB/GYN. The future of care for pregnant and gynecological patients is even more uncertain now as OB/GYN services in North County continue to dwindle. (Coast News) 
• Encinitas approved a contract with San Diego Rescue Mission last week to provide street outreach and housing navigation services to the city’s homeless population. (Coast News) 

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