Los Angeles Sets Up Sanctuary Protections Amid Federal Immigration Standoff

The Big Picture

Los Angeles, the nation's second-largest city, is advancing measures to protect undocumented immigrants and marginalized groups, directly opposing President-elect Donald Trump's immigration policies. This comes as cities across the U.S. brace for potential federal crackdowns on sanctuary policies.

What’s Happening

Sanctuary City Ordinance: The Los Angeles City Council is set to pass an ordinance that would prohibit city resources and facilities from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement. This formalizes a 2019 executive order into law.
Public Schools as "Sanctuaries": The Los Angeles Unified School District plans to adopt emergency resolutions to reaffirm protections for undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ+ students.
Federal Pushback: Trump and his immigration officials have vowed to override local sanctuary protections. Tim Homan, the administration's "border czar," stated, “Nothing will stop us from deporting migrant criminals.”

Sanctuary Cities Explained

The term "sanctuary city" refers to jurisdictions that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
Policies vary but often include barring local police from assisting in deportations or sharing certain data with federal agencies.

National Context

Other cities, such as New York and Boston, have also reinforced commitments to sanctuary policies.
Since Trump's first election, numerous school districts nationwide have declared themselves "safe havens" to reassure immigrant families and students.

Local Measures in LA

Ordinance Details: Los Angeles' ordinance aims to prevent federal access to city facilities and restrict data sharing.
School District Actions:
- A new course on current events will educate high school students on immigration and LGBTQ+ rights.
- Policies protecting undocumented students will be extended to cover families and staff.
Leadership's Message: LA school board president Jackie Goldberg pledged resistance, saying, “We’re not going to be running in fear. We’re going to fight you every inch of the way.”

Broader Implications

California’s Role: California, with its significant immigrant population, already prohibits schools from inquiring about immigration status. LA's actions align with this broader state stance.
Federal-State Conflict: The sanctuary policies highlight the tension between local governments and federal authorities over immigration enforcement.

What’s Next?

Ordinance Vote: The Los Angeles City Council is expected to expedite the sanctuary city ordinance vote.
School Board Resolutions: Emergency measures addressing anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments will soon be enacted.

Los Angeles is signaling its intent to stand firm, setting up a significant legal and political battle over immigration policy in the months ahead.