The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously voted to adopt a ‘sanctuary’ ordinance, aiming to shield migrants from the enforcement of federal immigration laws within the city’s borders. This legislative move effectively bans the use of city resources, including personnel and property, in the execution of federal immigration enforcement tasks, and prohibits cooperation with federal immigration agents.
The ordinance was crafted by LA Mayor Karen Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto, following consultations with immigrant rights groups. Details of the ordinance include strict prohibitions against city involvement in actions like investigating, citing, arresting, or detaining individuals solely for immigration law enforcement purposes. Mayor Bass emphasized the necessity of swift action to safeguard the city’s immigrant community. For more on the ordinance itself, you can view the full document here.
Community leaders, including Yvonne Wheeler of the LA County Federation of Labor and Gina Amato Lough from the Immigrants’ Rights Project, voiced their endorsement during the council meeting, stressing the moral obligation to protect residents from actions that could cause imminent harm to immigrant families.
The ordinance’s passage comes in reaction to President-elect Donald Trump’s commitment to execute mass deportations of undocumented immigrants, as highlighted in a recent New York Times report. Trump has indicated possible use of the US military by declaring a national emergency to fulfill these enforcement actions. Additionally, he expressed intentions to impose stricter border controls during his post-election victory speech, as reported by Jurist.
This legislative development in Los Angeles reflects broader regional and global responses to immigration policy changes, with countries like Canada also adjusting their immigration strategies, as noted in recent discussions by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
The ordinance awaits Mayor Bass’s signature to be enacted into law, marking a significant step in the city’s approach to immigration policy amidst evolving national and international legal landscapes.