Encinitas approves letter and draft MOU requesting ICE notification and post‑action reporting

The Encinitas City Council unanimously approved staff’s recommendation to send a drafted letter and a proposed memorandum of understanding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Border Patrol asking for enhanced local notification, identification protocols and post‑operation reporting.

City Manager said staff created a bilingual "Know Your Rights" web page, has filed Freedom of Information Act requests about local operations, and researched limits to "safe zone" policies. The proposed MOU requests that federal agencies provide the city and local law enforcement no fewer than two hours' notice before a probable enforcement action (by phone, email or text), include an approximate location, estimated personnel and a supervisor contact, and require agents to display proper badges and uniforms so city officials and residents can identify them. The MOU further asks for a post‑action summary within 24 hours listing names, charges and locations of apprehensions and whether detainees were released or moved to federal custody.

In public comments some residents described witnessing an operation and urged council to press for firm procedural expectations and community protections. Mayor asked staff to add hospitals to the list of sensitive locations in the letter and asked that agent uniforms be clearly labeled; staff confirmed the edits would be included.

The council motion to approve and send the revised letter and the draft MOU passed unanimously. Staff will post ICE statements and related records on the city’s website and continue to pursue interagency contacts at the Department of Homeland Security and Border Patrol to negotiate MOU terms.

What’s next: staff will transmit the signed letter, seek to negotiate the MOU, continue FOIA requests for local enforcement records and post received official statements online within 24 hours of receipt.