Summary
So, imagine a city throwing down the gauntlet to a president-elect, that’s LA right now with Trump over immigration. It’s like a classroom full of kids telling the strict new principal that they won’t snitch on their friends, that’s LA passing the “sanctuary city” ordinance, basically saying they won’t use local resources to help feds with immigration crackdowns. It’s like a game of chess, where other cities like Boston and NYC have made similar moves, and LA is also training its teachers and staff on how to handle interactions with immigration authorities, making it clear they won’t go down without a fight.
Key Points
– The Los Angeles city council has passed a “sanctuary city” ordinance, barring local resources from assisting federal immigration authorities, setting up a potential conflict with President-elect Donald Trump’s administration.
– The city’s public school system has also declared itself a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ students, passing several emergency resolutions.
– The term “sanctuary city” is used to describe places that limit assistance to federal immigration authorities, but its interpretation varies as it is not a legally defined term.
– “Sanctuary” and “safe haven” policies have been adopted by several other cities and school districts since Trump’s first election, aiming to reassure residents and students that they will not face deportation.
– LA city council member Nithya Raman stated that the ordinance will prohibit federal immigration enforcement from accessing city facilities or using city resources in their activities.
Background
– “Sanctuary city” is a term popularized in the US over the last decade, describing cities that limit their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The level of restriction varies, as it is not a legal term and different cities have taken different approaches.
– President-elect Trump and his chosen “border czar”, Tim Homan, have been vocal about their intent to carry out mass deportations and have urged sanctuary cities to not interfere with federal immigration crackdowns.
Future Implications
– The passing of the “sanctuary city” ordinance by the Los Angeles city council is likely to place the city on a collision course with the incoming Trump administration, which has vowed to initiate large-scale mass deportations at the start of its term.
– While sanctuary city designations may not legally prevent federal immigration enforcement, they represent a significant public stand against mass deportation policies and could potentially serve as a flashpoint for conflict between local and federal authorities.
