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. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Cryingdick

[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.