Policy Text
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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4.1 Liaison
4.1.3 Immigration Violations (Revised: 4/25/25 )
A. Purpose and Scope
The immigration status of individuals alone is generally not a matter for police action. It is
incumbent upon all employees of the Department to make a personal commitment to equal
enforcement of the law and service to the public regardless of immigration status.
Confidence in this commitment will inc rease the Department’s effectiveness in protec ting
and serving the entire community.
B. Department Policy
1. United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has primary
jurisdiction for enforcement of the provisions of Title 8 of the U.S. Code dealing
with illegal entry. The UCPD, on the other hand, has primary responsibility for
preserving and protecting public safety for the University community. Co mmunity
trust and cooperation are essential to effective law enforcement on campus and
other University property.
2. The limited resources of the UCSF Police Department should not be diverted from
this mission to the enforcement of federal immigration laws; the UCSF Police
Department shall not enforce federal immigration law.
3. The UCSF Poli ce Department should avoid actions that create a disincentive to
report crime or offer testimony as a witness to a crime, such as requesting
information about immigration status from crime victims and witnesses.
4. In accordance with the California Values Act, Government Code § 7284.6 (a) (1),
the UCSF Police Department shall not use University resources or personnel to
investigate, interrogate, detain , detect or arrest persons for immigration
enforcement purposes, including any of the following:
a. Inquir ing into an individual's immigration status
b. Detaining an individual on the basis of a federal immigration “hold” request
c. Providing information to federal immigration enforcement agencies
regarding a person's release date or responding to requests for notification
by providing release dates or other information, unless that information is
available to the public
d. Providing an individual's home address, work address or other personal
information, as defined in Civil Code §1798.3, unless that informati on is
available to the public
e. Making or intentionally participating in arrests based on civil immigration
warrants
University of California, San Francisco
Police Department General Orders
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f. Assisting immigration authorities in the activities described in Title 8 of the
U.S. Code § 1357(a)(3).
g. Performing the functions of an immigration officer, whether pursuant to
Title 8 of the U.S. Code § 1357(g) or any other law, regulation or policy,
whether formal or informal.
C. Procedures
1. Immigration Complaints
Persons wishing to report immigration violations shoul d be advised that
immigration enforcement is the responsibility of the federal government.
2. Basis for Contact, Detention, Questioning or Arrest
Officers shall not contact, detain, question or arrest an individual solely on the basis
of suspected undocum ented immigration status or to discover the immigration
status of an individual.
3. No Sweeps
a. The UCSF Police Department does not conduct sweeps or other
concentrated efforts to detain suspected undocumented persons. When law
enforcement efforts are increased in a particular area, equal consideration
should be given to all suspected violations and not just those affecting
persons of a particular race, national origin, religion, gender identity or
expression, housing status, sexual orientation, mental or physical disability
or other protected status.
b. The disposition of each contact (e.g., warning, citation, arrest), while
discretionary in each case, should not be affected by such factors as race,
national origin, religion, gender identity or expressi on, housing status,
sexual orientation, mental or physical disability or any other protected
status.
4. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Requests for Assistance
a. Requests by federal immigration officials for assistance from the UCSF
Police Depar tment should be directed to the Chief of Police or his/her
designee, who will determine Department response.
b. In accordance with the California Values Act, the UCSF Police Department
shall not:
(1) Place peace officers under the supervision of federal ag encies or
employ peace officers deputized as special federal officers of special
federal deputies for purposes of immigration enforcement
(2) Use immigration authorities as interpreters for law enforcement
matters relating to individuals in UCSF Police Dep artment custody
(3) Provide office space exclusively dedicated for immigration
authorities to use within a UCSF Police Department facility.
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Police Department General Orders
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c. In acco rdance with the California Values Act, Department members shall
not participate in enforcement or investig ative duties associated with a joint
law enforcement task force, as defined in Government Code § 7284.4(g),
including the sharing of confidential information, unless (1) the primary
purpose of the joint law enforcement task force is not immigration
enforce ment and (2) the enforcement or investigative duties are primarily
related to a violation of state or federal law not related to immigration
enforcement. [Government Code § 7284.6(b) ].
d. Nothing in this policy shall prohibit the UCSF Police Department from
managing the flow of traffic, peacekeeping, ensuring officer safety or other
activities necessary to prevent personal injury and/or property damage.
e. Department members shall not participate in federal operations as part of
any federal immigration dete ntion team. Any detention