The push comes as federal immigration enforcement activity has drawn increased scrutiny in Austin and other cities. Officials said they have received reports of ICE vehicles and personnel gathering in commercial parking lots before conducting operations, a practice they argue can intimidate residents and disrupt local business districts.

"No property owner should be an unwitting partner in separating families," Casar said in the statement. "We are asking landlords and business owners to make clear that their lots are not available for ICE staging. This is about keeping our community safe and ensuring that everyone—regardless of immigration status—can go about their daily lives without fear."

The officials did not specify which parking lots have been used for staging or provide evidence of specific operations. But they said the request is a proactive measure to prevent future use and to give property owners a clear legal and ethical framework.

Austin City Council members and local immigration advocacy groups joined Casar in the call, emphasizing that staging in public-facing commercial areas can have a chilling effect on local commerce and trust in law enforcement. They pointed to similar efforts in other cities where property owners have posted signs or issued policies barring federal immigration agents from using their lots without a warrant.

Legal experts note that parking lot owners have the right to restrict access to their private property, but federal agents may still enter areas open to the public for limited purposes. The officials' request is voluntary and not legally binding.

The coalition plans to distribute informational materials to parking lot owners in the coming weeks, outlining how to post signage and what to do if approached by federal agents. They also encouraged residents to report sightings of ICE staging activity to local immigrant rights organizations.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The agency has previously said its operations are targeted at individuals with criminal records or those subject to final orders of removal, though advocates dispute that characterization.

The effort underscores Austin's role as a hub of resistance to federal immigration policies under the Trump administration. In recent years, the city has limited cooperation with federal immigration enforcement and expanded legal services for immigrants. Casar, a progressive Democrat, has been a vocal critic of ICE tactics and has pushed for congressional oversight of the agency.

Community organizers said the next step is to pressure large commercial property owners and chains to adopt explicit policies. "We want to make it socially and politically costly for any landlord to allow their lot to be used for deportation staging," said one organizer, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss strategy. "This is about community self-defense."

It remains unclear how many parking lot owners will comply. Some business groups have expressed concern about potential legal liability or retaliation from federal authorities, but the officials said they are not asking owners to break any laws—only to exercise their property rights.

The announcement is part of a broader national trend of local governments and advocacy groups using private property restrictions to complicate federal immigration enforcement. Similar campaigns have launched in Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York, with mixed results.

For Austin residents, the officials said the goal is to send a message that the city stands with immigrant communities. "We will not allow our neighborhoods to become staging grounds for fear," Casar said. "Every lot owner who says no is standing up for our values."