Los Angeles is set to strengthen its stance on protecting undocumented immigrants as the City Council is expected to finalize and adopt a "sanctuary city" ordinance today, a move that follows Donald Trump's presidential election win, reported NBC Los Angeles. The ordinance will mandate that no city resources or personnel be used to aid federal enforcement of immigration laws, with Mayor Karen Bass ready to sign it into law.
The unanimous council vote on November 19 resisted Trump's tough stance on immigration, requiring a second vote due to some changes made, "We have been a pro-immigrant city for a number of years, we know that there is a target on our back from this president-elect, and what we are doing here is we are hardening our defenses," Councilman Bob Blumenfield said in a statement obtained by FOX LA. Adding urgency to these actions, the ordinance will be in effect just 10 days post-signing, almost certainly before Trump is sworn in.
The forthcoming ordinance codifies previous policies and aims to close a gap that permitted indirect information sharing with federal immigration authorities. A notable change aligns the city's laws with California's "sanctuary state" law, with the Los Angeles Police Department maintaining its own Special Order 40 that prohibits officers from asking about immigration status or arresting based on immigration violations, although an exception exists for serious offenses involving previously deported individuals with violent felony convictions.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education has reaffirmed its position as a "sanctuary district," pledging teacher and staff training to appropriately handle encounters with federal immigration authorities. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is also creating a task force to monitor changes to federal immigration policies and possibly forming a Department of Immigration Affairs, as they're taking additional steps like increasing mental health support initiatives for immigrants. This wide-ranging approach aims to bolster the community's resilience against expected changes under Trump's leadership with Mayor Bass stressing the importance of sending a message that "we are a city of immigrants," reported KTLA.
Responses to these moves have been polarized with the Los Angeles County Republican Party arguing that "a country without secure borders isn't a country at all" and highlighting their view that sanctuary policies protect criminals at taxpayer expense, a statement obtained by NBC Los Angeles details. Tom Homan, Trump's prospective "border czar," has previously threatened to increase federal enforcement presence in sanctuary jurisdictions and even withhold federal funding, a tactic that might be revisited in light of these recent developments.
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