Making Clovis a ‘non-sanctuary city’ is an unnecessary, even harmful idea | Opinion
“The Clovis way of life,” as the slogan goes, apparently does not include undocumented people, at least in the eyes of one City Council member.
Diane Pearce, the mayor pro tem, believes that Clovis should follow the lead of Huntington Beach, which last month declared itself to be a “non-sanctuary” city. That means that the Orange County city’s police and other employees cooperate with the federal government in its search and apprehension of people living there without legal status.
The hunt for undocumented people is particularly intense now because conducting “massive” deportations is one of the key campaign promises of President Donald Trump.
The Huntington Beach mayor called it a “common sense” declaration meant to fight crime. Pearce said she has heard from Clovis residents wanting a similar official stance for their community.
Reactions by speakers at the Tuesday City Council meeting were varied. Some said undocumented people pose a crime threat, despite numerous studies that have shown those without legal status actually break fewer laws than American citizens.
Another speaker pointed out that Clovis has among the lowest crime rates in the San Joaquin Valley, and he did not understand the need for a non-sanctuary designation.
Overstating the dangers posed by undocumented people is a longstanding thread in the nation’s political and racial discourse, and Pearce is merely bringing it to Clovis now with her idea. But she is posing a solution in search of a problem.
Reasons ‘non-sanctuary’ is wrong move
Here are other reasons the declaration of Clovis as a “non-sanctuary city” is unnecessary, even harmful:
▪ If undocumented people learn that Clovis police will help federal agents in Trump’s deportation campaign, those residents will shy away from talking to police when real crimes occur. That endangers those residents, and limits the efforts of Clovis police to deal with actual lawbreaking.
▪ Demands by federal immigration authorities will put extra burdens on Clovis police who have been understaffed for many years. The city’s voters in November approved a 1% sales tax hike in reaction to pleas by police and fire departments for funding to do hiring. The measure will raise $28 million a year.
Why should immigration duties that rightfully belong to the federal government become something added to local police?
▪ The City Council remains strongly pro-growth. The majority of workers in construction trades are undocumented. If construction workers without legal status flee Clovis, who will build the houses developers are putting up?
Undocumented workers are also critical in service jobs, like restaurants.
Better approach
Pearce took to Facebook after the meeting to express frustration with the lack of immediate backing from her council colleagues.
It is unrealistic to think fellow council members would jump to support such a divisive issue. Hopefully they will remain on the sidelines and let Pearce’s idea die from lack of support.
It is notable how a conservative mayor of a neighboring city, Jerry Dyer of Fresno, has reacted to Trump’s anti-immigrant push. He told Bee staff writer Erik Galicia that Fresno police will stay out of immigration enforcement.
“We have worked hard to earn the trust of our immigrant community and to ensure that they feel comfortable reaching out to law enforcement when they need help or to provide information to officers,” Dyer said. “If federal mandates require local law enforcement to participate in immigration enforcement, I want to be very clear: Fresno will not sacrifice the trust we’ve worked so hard to build with our community.”
Pearce would do well to consider Dyer’s view, for the good of everyone who contributes to “the Clovis way of life.”
This story was originally published February 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM.
