Several immigrant rights activists were detained Tuesday by Sonoma County deputies after they interrupted a Board of Supervisors’ meeting, breaking into song before the board’s vote on a policy to codify the county’s position and limits on information sharing with federal immigration officials.
The disruption came inside the board chambers and hours after demonstrators first gathered outside the county’s administrative headquarters in Santa Rosa to continue their pressure campaign, urging supervisors to adopt a more restrictive sanctuary policy that would end all local cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Mary Maloney, right, holds a sign demanding a non-collaboration county ordinance during a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting in Santa Rosa Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Renee Saucedo, a program coordinator for ALMAS Libres, gives a thumbs up after listening to comments from the supervisors during a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting in Santa Rosa Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
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Mary Maloney, right, holds a sign demanding a non-collaboration county ordinance during a Sonoma County Board of Supervisors meeting in Santa Rosa Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (Beth Schlanker / The Press Democrat)
Tuesday’s hearing marked the county’s long-awaited answer to that campaign, which has gained momentum and urgency amid the Trump administration’s aggressive and, at times, deadly crackdown domestic crackdown on immigration enforcement.
The marathon discussion took several turns as immigration advocates at first criticized the new proposal, then cheered as supervisors offered amendments. The conversation also delved into a proposed $1.5 million in county funding for unspecified services and programs to support immigrant communities.
The major point of contention came down to the explicit exclusion of the Sheriff’s Office from the noncollaboration ordinance. That flashpoint has been advocates’ key focus because the primary way that immigration officials work with local officials in Sonoma County is by requesting information about certain inmates in the jail.
State law limits what can be shared, and Sheriff Eddie Engram has further restricted the circumstances when his agency will respond to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While he signaled Tuesday that he is looking to add even more restrictions, he’s stopped short of cutting off information sharing altogether, citing a need to balance public safety considerations.
Supervisors have largely sided with Engram’s position – although Supervisor Chris Coursey broke from his colleagues in January and said he supported cutting all ties with ICE. The board approves the sheriff’s budget but doesn’t have jurisdiction over Engram’s leadership of his department as an elected official.
Still, a long line of speakers during public comment pressured supervisors to remove the specific exclusion of the Sheriff’s Office and other elected officials. Supervisors moved in that direction but not enough to address activists’ concerns.
Just before a final vote, a group broke into chants of “We shall overcome,” punctuated by whistles. Staff paused the vote and tried to clear the chambers. Eight people from the Sanctuary Coalition of Sonoma County, according to one of those detained, were handcuffed and cited for disrupting a public meeting.
They were released from custody one by one from the county administration building to the front courtyard, just steps from the board chambers, to cheers and hugs from fellow coalition members.
“We had to express our moral outrage and a message that we will not stop even if the ordinance passes,” said Renee Saucedo, a lead organizer with the Sanctuary Coalition of Sonoma County and one of those detained.
She said she “absolutely” felt that message was delivered today.
After nearly an hour-long delay, the board unanimously passed an amended ordinance.
This is a breaking story. Check back for updates.
You can reach Staff Writer Emma Murphy at 707-521-5228 or emma.murphy@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter @MurphReports.
You can reach senior reporter Marisa Endicott at 707-521-5470 or marisa.endicott@pressdemocrat.com. On X @marisaendicott and Facebook @InYourCornerTPD.