The Civil Liberties Enforcement and Accountability Rules (CLEAR) ordinance spearheaded by San Diego County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer will take effect tomorrow (Friday Feb. 27), including the roll-out of signs in multiple languages stating federal ICE agents are restricted from entering non-public areas of County facilities without a judicial warrant.

The ordinance ensures that County resources are not used to facilitate immigration raids and reinforces constitutional protections inside County spaces such as health clinics, child welfare offices, libraries, and other public service facilities.

“This is about the rule of law,” said San Diego County Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer. “County facilities exist to serve the public, not to enable lawless federal enforcement actions. Under CLEAR, federal agents must present a judicial warrant before entering non-public areas. And our residents have the constitutional right to decline to speak with federal agents. We are making those rights visible and clear.”

Here is a video of Supervisor Lawson-Remer showcasing the new signs in multiple languages: 2026.02.26 CLEAR Mv1.mov - Google Drive

The signs will be posted at all county-operated facilities, including offices, maintenance yards, and buildings managed by county contractors, grantees, and leaseholders. They will be printed in English and Spanish as specified in the CLEAR Ordinance, with translations in seven additional languages, including Chinese (Mandarin/Cantonese), Vietnamese, Tagalog, Arabic, Farsi (Persian), Korean, and Japanese.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved the CLEAR ordinance on January 28, 2026, by a 3-1 vote. County staff training is now underway on the ordinance requirements and reporting procedures. 

Under CLEAR, federal law enforcement agents must present a judicial warrant before entering non-public areas of County facilities. If approached, County employees are required to:

• Not obstruct lawful access
• Request to review a judicial warrant 
• Immediately notify a supervisor