Oakland Backs State Bill to Bar Cops From Immigration Side Work

Oakland's Rules & Legislation Committee moved quickly through a dense agenda Jan. 22, advancing an immigration enforcement resolution, $230,000 in legal settlements, and a first-of-its-kind AI procurement for the fire department — while public commenters pressed the city on sanctuary city accountability, overdue oversight reports, and murky governance over Measure NN public safety dollars.

• Resolution supporting AB 1537, which would ban and decertify California officers who moonlight for immigration enforcement, heads to Feb. 3 council consent

• $3.4M Stryker emergency medical equipment deal quietly withdrawn by staff with no public explanation

• Public commenters demand overdue MACRO report and clarity on who controls Measure NN spending

• Three legal settlements totaling $230,000 — including a $125,000 OPD negligence payout — sent to council

• $1.37M AI-powered fire records system routed to Public Safety Committee

The committee scheduled a resolution supporting California Assembly Bill 1537 (Bryan) for the Feb. 3 City Council consent agenda, placing Oakland on record against peace officers moonlighting for immigration enforcement entities — a direct reinforcement of the city's sanctuary posture as federal ICE operations intensify across the Bay Area.