KERN COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE SANCTUARY CITY POLICY EFFORTS

KERN COUNTY, CA, JULY 9 2026 – The Kern County Young Democrats are calling on the Bakersfield City Council to approve a sanctuary city policy that reflects the appreciation and acknowledgement of our immigrant neighbors, their contributions to our community, and the simple fact that all people–regardless of race, nationality, or status of citizenship–deserve to feel safe and protected in Bakersfield.

Our sanctuary city resolution states and requests include, but are not limited to the following:

• Acknowledgement of the duty the City of Bakersfield has to protect all who call it home, including over 84,000 immigrants from a vast array of racial ethnic, and national backgrounds.

• Entanglements with federal civil enforcement diverts already limited resources away

• from local law enforcement, and blurs the lines of accountability between the federal, state, and local governments

• Creation of an “ICE Free Zone,” which prohibits immigration enforcement on city property, including city owned lands or facilities, and prevents city resources being deterred away from local governance to support federal government activity

A statement is not enough. We call on all community members to join us in this effort by attending the July 15th Bakersfield City Council meeting, occurring at 5:15 pm at 1501 Truxtun Ave. Bakersfield, CA 93301, and requesting that this resolution be added to the following meeting’s agenda. We also call on community members to email and call their councilmembers, and show support and make the same request. You may contact your councilmember at www.bakersfieldcity.us/city-council.

If you plan to attend, please visit https://forms.gle/VEiYQz2E2aAdZ78s9, to stay up to date with all necessary information. Please visit our website at www.kernyoungdems.org; our Instagram at www.instagram.com/kernyoungdems, or email us at info@kernyoungdems.org to view the full resolution. You may also click here.