City Council members on Tuesday will consider passing an ordinance that would make Los Angeles a “sanctuary city,” banning city resources from being used to help federal enforcement of immigration laws.
The ordinance was introduced last week by council attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto and Mayor Karen Bass, making it public for the first time since city officials announced it. already called for it over a year ago.
Councilmembers Hugo Soto-Martinez and Monica Rodriguez, chair of the City Council’s Civil Rights and Public Safety committees, waived the jurisdiction issue, expediting a vote on the matter by the full council.
They say an executive action from former Mayor Eric Garcetti wouldn’t be enough and that Los Angeles would need a real law to make the city a sanctuary city in 2019.
“In principle, the ordinance would prevent federal immigration enforcement from accessing city facilities or using city resources in the pursuit of immigration enforcement,” Council Member Nithya Raman said, speaking to CBS News Los Angeles. “Our existing regulation goes a step further than even the executive directive in that it prohibits certain types of data sharing that have also proven harmful and have historically led to cases of real lack of security for residents.”
If approved, leaders believe it could spark a battle with the new administration selected by newly elected President Donald Trump, who promised during his campaign to deport illegal immigrants.
“On day one, I will launch the largest deportation program in American history,” he said at one point during his campaign. “We’re going to get the criminals out.”
Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez says the fear millions of Angelenos are feeling is not unfounded.
“Of course people are scared because we saw that it wasn’t just rhetoric last time,” she said. “So I think people just want to make sure they know what to do in case of an emergency.”
Even with a promise from newly appointed Police Chief Jim McDonnell, who said he would not get involved in immigration enforcement, legal experts say no protection can actually stop federal agents.
“People, whether they are immigrants themselves or are related to an immigrant, should be under no illusions that whatever ordinances a city or county passes will prevent the federal government from stepping in and trying to enforce federal law in the city and province to apply. of Los Angeles,” said Eric Lee, an immigration attorney.
Council members who spoke with KCAL News say they expect the ordinance to be passed Tuesday.
Tom Wait
