Los Angeles Doubles Down on Protections for Immigrants with New ‘Sanctuary City’ Ordinance
The Los Angeles City Council is about to make its stance on immigration even clearer, poised to adopt a far-reaching “sanctuary city” ordinance.
This latest action further solidifies protections for undocumented migrants by barring city resources and staff from assisting in the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
TheORDINANCE is expected to be finalized and voted on Wednesday, with an urgency clause in place that would bring it into effect just 10 days after it’s signed by Mayor Karen Bass. The 13-0 vote in favor of the proposal during the Nov. 19 meeting highlighted the strong bipartisan support for the measure. Councilman Bob Blumenfield’s comments sum up the sentiment: “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,” he said. “We are codifying our good policies on protecting immigrants.”
While council members worked to enhance and clarify the ordinance’s language
before presenting it for a final vote, it remains closely aligned with California’s “sanctuary state” law, SB 54, the California Values Act of 2017.
Statements from the Los Angeles County Republican Party oppose the ordinance, characterizing it as harmful to public safety. “A country without secure borders isn’t a country at all,” their statement declared.
While acknowledging that “so-called ‘sanctuary cities’ sound warm and fuzzy, but the protections they offer aren’t for abuelas getting ice cream— they’re for people who’ve entered the country illegally and committed additional crimes.”
It continues: “Whether drunk driving, robbery, sexual violence, assault, or murder, none of those should go unpunished. Perpetrators should definitely not be protected by the largesse taken from hard-working taxpayers.”
While they provided detailed context, their statements represented a perspective that contrasts sharply with the position adopted by the City Council.
The move comes amidst tense national debate about immigration enforcement. The decision coincides with the conclusion of a tumultuous presidential campaign during which incoming president Donald Trump promised to crack down on undocumented immigration nationwide.
Seeking to possibly redress past legislation, the Los Angeles Police Department de-emphasizes collaboration with federal immigration authorities. The exception to this rule, established back in 1979, applies to assistance in cases involving serious offenses. For example, LAPD can cooperate if a migrant previously deported but returns to the United States after being convicted of a violent felony.
These scenarios, however, have only been activated twice since it was implemented. Tom Homan, appointed by Trump to oversee immigration enforcement,
What are the potential arguments for and against Los Angeles becoming a sanctuary city?
## Interview: LA Becomes a Sanctuary City
**Host:** Joining us today is [Alex Reed Name], a [Alex Reed Title/Expertise] with [Alex Reed Affiliation]. Los Angeles has taken a major step this week, poised to become a designated “Sanctuary City”. Can you break down what this means for the city and its residents?
**Alex Reed:** Absolutely. This new ordinance passed by the Los Angeles City Council essentially bars city resources and personnel from being used to enforce federal immigration laws. This means local police, for example, wouldn’t be able to detain someone solely based on their immigration status, nor could they share information with federal immigration authorities about a person’s whereabouts unless required by a warrant. [1]
**Host:** This move comes with strong support from the city council, but there has been opposition as well. Can you elaborate on the different perspectives surrounding this ordinance?
**Alex Reed:** You’re right, support for the ordinance was overwhelmingly bipartisan, with a unanimous 13 to 0 vote. Councilman Blumenfield highlighted the desire to protect immigrants, especially in light of concerns about federal immigration policies. [1] However, the Los Angeles County Republican Party has voiced opposition, arguing that such policies could negatively impact public safety. This debate often centers around the balance between upholding federal law and protecting the well-being of all residents, regardless of their immigration status.
**Host:** How does this new ordinance align with existing state-level laws in California?
**Alex Reed:** This new ordinance closely resembles California’s “sanctuary state” law, SB 54, also known as the California Values Act of 2017. So, essentially, Los Angeles is solidifying its stance in line with the broader state policy of limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.
**Host:** Looking ahead, what are some potential implications of this decision for Los Angeles, both positive and negative?
**Alex Reed:** This is a complex issue with potential ramifications on multiple fronts. On one hand, supporters believe it will provide a sense of security for undocumented immigrants, encouraging them to access essential services without fear of deportation. This can lead to better integration and contributions to the local economy. However, critics argue that it could hinder law enforcement efforts to apprehend criminals who may also be undocumented and potentially lead to increased crime rates.
**Host:** Thank you for sharing your expertise on this critical topic, [Alex Reed Name].
For our listeners, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to officially pass the ordinance this week, which will go into effect 10 days after Mayor Bass signs it.[[[[[1](https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/la-city-council-discusses-sanctuary-city-status-for-immigrants/)]
