Sanctuary City Debate

At a glance

• What: repeated public requests, on both sides, about whether Bakersfield should be a sanctuary city or adopt a "Rule of Law City" resolution. It has not been an agenda item in these meetings.
• Where it stands: speakers raised it at all three meetings in the record; on August 5 Bashirtash asked staff to stop all work and preparation on any Sanctuary Act or Truth Act meetings. No vote is recorded.

Sources

• Minutes of 2026-08-05: https://docs.bakersfieldcity.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2000875&dbid=0&repo=CITYRECORDS (read from a scanned document)
• Minutes of 2026-08-26: https://docs.bakersfieldcity.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2000876&dbid=0&repo=CITYRECORDS (read from a scanned document)
• Minutes of 2026-09-16: https://docs.bakersfieldcity.us/WebLink/DocView.aspx?id=2001808&dbid=0&repo=CITYRECORDS (read from a scanned document)

Log

2026-09-16 - City Council

Several speakers at both sessions asked for the Rule of Law resolution and opposed a sanctuary city; one in-person speaker opposed the Rule of Law resolution. No council action. Bashirtash and Councilmember Weir were absent.

2026-08-26 - Special City Council and 2026-08-26 - City Council

Speakers at the noon special meeting, the 3:30 session and the 5:15 session opposed a sanctuary city and asked for a Rule of Law resolution. No council action.

2026-08-05 - City Council

Speakers split at the 5:20 session: two spoke in favor of a sanctuary city (two others spoke in favor at the 3:30 session) and eight spoke against; twelve more registered but ran out of time. Under Council and Mayor Statements, Bashirtash asked staff to immediately cease all work and preparation on any Sanctuary Act or Truth Act meetings. The minutes record no vote. The topic returned at the 2026-10-07 - City Council meeting.