Sonoma County immigration advocates launch hunger strike for sanctuary ordinance

Renee Saucedo said she had toast with “lots of peanut butter” for breakfast around 8 a.m. Tuesday.

If all goes according to plan, it will be her last meal for at least a week.

Saucedo, a coordinator with the Sonoma County Sanctuary Coalition, is one of seven people participating in a hunger strike urging county leaders to pass a sanctuary ordinance that would protect local immigrant communities from federal immigration enforcement.

The group plans to camp outside the Sonoma County Administration Building and remain there through next week, when the Board of Supervisors holds its next meeting. Participants say they’ll consume only fluids and use public restrooms during the day and portable toilets at night.

A county ordinance prohibits camping on public property within 25 feet of an entrance, within 150 feet of a waterway, or on a public sidewalk, easement, or right of way. It also bars camping between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m., requiring campsites to be dismantled each morning.

Participants say they plan to follow those rules.

The hunger strike is supported by local faith leaders, congregation members, immigrant rights organizations and community allies.

“A hunger strike for the faith community is a long time coming,” Saucedo said. “It’s not only expressing hope, but fighting for justice. It’s important to show our local government we’re willing to sacrifice in order to push them to do the right thing.”

Sonoma County Supervisor Chris Coursey told The Press Democrat on Tuesday he supports everyone’s right to free speech, including the use of hunger strikes. But while a sanctuary ordinance would be relatively easy to pass, he said it would do little to counter Trump administration immigration policies, which he also opposes.

“’Sanctuary’ is a word that means different things to different people but primarily ... calling us a sanctuary county does nothing to protect anyone,” he said. “It doesn’t change any of the policies or actions that are happening now in this county and, to me, it’s making a false promise.”

Supervisor Lynda Hopkins said she empathized with those participating in the hunger strike and understood their motivations. However, she said local leaders can’t stop federal enforcement, and a sanctuary ordinance could do more harm than good.

“It risks creating a false sense of security and contributes to misinformation,” Hopkins said Tuesday afternoon. “Worse, it may put a target on the backs of local immigrants and refugees — particularly under a federal administration that has demonstrated a willingness to pursue retribution.”

Advocates say the ordinance is urgently needed amid a surge in arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement since Donald Trump returned to the presidency in January. ICE’s daily arrest target has reportedly increased to 3,000 nationwide, with activity rising in California and other states.

The North Bay Rapid Response Network, which tracks ICE enforcement and provides legal support, has documented five arrests in Sonoma County this year — beginning March 13 in the lobby of the county’s Probation Department.

Subsequent arrests occurred April 8 at a Petaluma gas station, June 17 on Corby Avenue in Santa Rosa, June 18 outside a workplace on Farmers Lane, and July 28 near the former Bed Bath & Beyond store on Santa Rosa Avenue.

Calls for a sanctuary ordinance began shortly after Trump defeated Kamala Harris in last year’s presidential election. In response, immigration advocates rallied outside the administration building, chanting “Sanctuary now!” toward the Board of Supervisors.

The board later passed a resolution expressing support for local immigrants, including undocumented residents — but it stopped short of designating Sonoma County a sanctuary jurisdiction. The word “sanctuary” was notably absent, a point of contention for advocates.

While most ICE activity has affected the local Hispanic and Latino population, the Rev. Bev Spears of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Rosa said the effort would benefit many communities.

“We have many migrants here and it isn’t just the Latinx community,” she said. “We have other migrant communities, such as the Fijian community. All Latinx migrants are not from Mexico. Honduras, Venezuela, El Salvador. There are so many places people are from.”