Los Angeles Takes a Stand as an Immigration 'Sanctuary'

[Social Media]

 

Los Angeles, the second-largest city in the United States, is positioning itself in direct opposition to President-elect Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The city council is set to pass a "sanctuary city" ordinance that would prevent local resources from being used to assist federal immigration authorities. Alongside this move, the Los Angeles public school system plans to declare itself a "sanctuary" for undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ students through emergency resolutions.  

 

Trump, who will take office in two months, has vowed to implement mass deportations. His chosen "border czar," Tim Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has strongly criticized sanctuary cities. Homan recently told Fox News, "Nothing will stop us from deporting migrant criminals. We're going to do the job with you, or without you." These statements echo Trump's campaign rhetoric targeting sanctuary cities, where local governments limit cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.  

 

Sanctuary city designations are not legally defined but reflect various local approaches, such as altering policing practices or enacting specific laws. Last week, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass released a draft of a long-anticipated sanctuary city ordinance. According to council member Nithya Raman, the ordinance aims to codify a 2019 executive order into city law by barring federal immigration enforcement from using city facilities or resources.

 

Raman explained to CBS News that the ordinance also seeks to restrict data sharing, further safeguarding undocumented immigrants within the city.  

 

Other cities, including Boston and New York, have pledged similar commitments to resist federal immigration enforcement. Los Angeles’ efforts extend to its school system, located approximately 140 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border. The school board will vote on emergency resolutions that directly challenge anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ sentiment, which board president Jackie Goldberg attributes to the incoming administration. “We’re not going to be running in fear,” Goldberg told the *Los Angeles Times*. “We’re going to fight you, every inch of the way.”  

 

One resolution reaffirms the district’s commitment to immigrant students, families, and staff, framing Trump’s election as the victory of a candidate with an anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. The school board is also considering implementing a high school course to educate students on current events and extending existing non-discrimination policies to cover not just students but also their families, employees, and relatives.  

 

California’s laws already prohibit schools from inquiring about students' immigration status, reflecting the state's sizable population of mixed-status families. Although federal law mandates public schools to enroll all eligible students, much of the governance is left to states and local districts. The Los Angeles resolutions seek to fortify protections in the face of what local leaders see as looming threats from the federal government.  

 

Based on a report by BBC 2024-11-20

 

 

 

[Cryingdick]

Sounds like ICE may enforce the aiding and abetting law which is a felony if you are guilty. They should prepare to lose a ton of federal funds. 

[herfiehandbag]

I thought one of the cornerstones of American conservative politics was the right of states and local communities to decide things for themselves?

[KhunLA]

21 minutes ago, herfiehandbag said:

I thought one of the cornerstones of American conservative politics was the right of states and local communities to decide things for themselves?

As long as Fed laws are enforced.  What part of 'criminals' don't people understand.

 

...  "Nothing will stop us from deporting migrant criminals. We're going to do the job with you, or without you." 

[Eric Loh]

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

As long as Fed laws are enforced.  What part of 'criminals' don't people understand.

 

...  "Nothing will stop us from deporting migrant criminals. We're going to do the job with you, or without you." 

The LA Sancturay city law has exception for law enforcement on serious offense and criminal acts. It aim to protect senseless mass deportation of immigrants touted by Trump. The city law was proposed in early 2023 - long before the election. 

[James105]

Hi LA,

 

If you like illegal immigrants we have about a million+ illegal migrants going spare.   They just need feeding 3 times a day, free money, free phones, free medical treatment, free dentistry and free transport.  They do prefer to stay for free in 4 star hotels but they can rough it in a 3 star if necessary, although do expect some negative reviews from them if you do have use a lower than expected star level of course. 

 

Ta very much.

 

The UK.  

[KhunLA]

11 minutes ago, Eric Loh said:

The LA Sancturay city law has exception for law enforcement on serious offense and criminal acts. It aim to protect senseless mass deportation of immigrants touted by Trump. The city law was proposed in early 2023 - long before the election. 

Sanctuary cities have been an issue, long before Trump entered the political scene.  Been a thorn in ICE's side for over 50 yrs.

 

 

Every issue is not about Trump 

 

Constitution was written 236 yrs ago, and Trump only serve for 4 years.  Everything bad or good is not his fault or doing  and the USA doesn't revolve around his thoughts.

[Screaming]

LA is already a hell hole and now it will be even worse. They should just fence it in and succeed from the Union. Years ago there was a movie with Kurt Russel called "Escape from LA." This is what LA will look like in the future.

[thaibeachlovers]

2 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

I thought one of the cornerstones of American conservative politics was the right of states and local communities to decide things for themselves?

Federal government rules on immigration, not states. If an alien crosses the border without federal permission that is a federal crime.

 

That sound of feet is the stampede of people leaving the state. I'll be lovin' it when California has to beg the federal government for financial assistance because so many tax payers left.

[thaibeachlovers]

20 minutes ago, Screaming said:

LA is already a hell hole and now it will be even worse. They should just fence it in and succeed from the Union. Years ago there was a movie with Kurt Russel called "Escape from LA." This is what LA will look like in the future.

Great movie made before Hollywood went woke.

[jimmybcool]

Might get interesting if it is one of the few remaining large cities in USA offering sanctuary status.  Could end up getting a million more immigrants.  Wonder how the business community and taxpayers will feel about that? 

[Talon]

Any city can be "sanctuary" all they wish; but there's a line they better not cross.

 

The Line: Title 8 US Code 1324, iii

It is unlawful to harbor or conceal illegal aliens from law enforcement.

 

Immigration and the enforcement of immigration law is under the sole authority of the federal government. Interfere with it, and there is no doubt in my mind that the America First DOJ will prosecute violators to the fullest.

[impulse]

8 hours ago, Social Media said:

“We’re not going to be running in fear,” Goldberg told the *Los Angeles Times*. “We’re going to fight you, every inch of the way.”  

 

Good luck doing anything without federal funds.

 

[Talon]

50 minutes ago, jimmybcool said:

Might get interesting if it is one of the few remaining large cities in USA offering sanctuary status.  Could end up getting a million more immigrants.  Wonder how the business community and taxpayers will feel about that? 

 

San Fransicko is already crumbling due to lawlessness.  All of Commiefornia may soon be swallowed up.

[tai4de2]

3 hours ago, herfiehandbag said:

I thought one of the cornerstones of American conservative politics was the right of states and local communities to decide things for themselves

 

The "cornerstone" is that the federal government should be limited to powers enumerated in The Constitution. That does include enforcing our national border. It does not include things like education and abortion -- and those things are thus state-level issues.

 

Sanctuary jurisdictions cannot legally stop the federal government from removing illegal aliens (side note: these people are not "immigrants"). That doesn't mean places like LA won't be successful obstructionists, at least to some extent. But if the feds want to get nasty about it, well, sanctuary jurisdictions are in for a rough ride.

 

The sight of federal police exercising power in jurisdictions adamantly opposed to it could easily morph into civil war, IMO, so both sides need to tread carefully.