Los Angeles City Council unanimously approves ordinance turning L.A. into a sanctuary city

11/22/2024 / By Ava Grace

The Los Angeles City Council has voted unanimously to declare itself a “sanctuary city” in opposition to President-elect Donald Trump and his plans to mass deport illegal immigrants, including those residing in sanctuary cities.

The sanctuary city ordinance prevents city resources from being used for immigration enforcement and also prevents city departments from sharing information regarding undocumented immigrants with federal migration and border security authorities. Los Angeles joins over a dozen cities across the United States that already have or have recently enacted similar provisions. (Related: GAME ON: Incoming Border Czar Tom Homan to challenge the sanctuary state policies of Illinois and Gov. J.B. Pritzker.)

The ordinance codifies an executive order by former Mayor Eric Garcetti and common practice by the Los Angeles Police Department under Special Order 40 that prevents local resources and law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The measure is set to return to the city council for a second vote as a formality in the next few weeks. Mayor Karen Bass could use her veto power to override the city council, but has stated that she will not do so as she supports the ordinance.

“This moment demands urgency,” said Bass. “Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.”

Sanctuary cities and states are not legally distinct entities, and their regulations do not prevent federal immigration authorities from operating within their jurisdictions. Illegal immigrants can still be deported in Los Angeles, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and other migration authorities will have to do so without the support of these jurisdictions’ local law enforcement and departments.

Los Angeles Democrats celebrate passage of sanctuary city ordinance

Immigration advocates have been pressuring city council members in Los Angeles to move swiftly to protect undocumented migrants in the city from Trump’s impending immigration crackdown. This city ordinance is the result of their lobbying.

“We know what’s coming. They’ve said what’s coming, and we want to tell our students and their families and all of our personnel that you are welcome here,” said former Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education Member Jackie Goldberg, a former city councilmember herself, referring to the high number of students in the city who either have undocumented parents and relatives or are themselves undocumented.

“We’re going to send a very clear message that the city of Los Angeles will not cooperate with ICE in any way,” said Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez. “We want people to feel protected and be able to have faith in their government and that women can report domestic violence, crimes.”

Soto-Martinez was the initial sponsor of a similar ordinance last year that did not pass. He claimed that his parents and many of his constituents are immigrants without legal status and that they are “embedded in the larger community” as laborers.

Visit OpenBorders.news for more about Trump’s immigration policies.

Watch this clip of incoming Border Czar Tom Homan appealing to the leaders of sanctuary cities to work with President-elect Donald Trump to prevent illegal immigrants from committing crimes.

This video is from the Trending News channel on Brighteon.com.