On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council and the Los Angeles Unified School Board are expected to take action aimed at protecting immigrants and others from federal immigration officials.
First, Los Angeles City Council is expected to pass a law that would make L.A. a sanctuary city.
Want to get caught up on what's happening in SoCal every weekday afternoon? Click to follow The L.A. Local wherever you get podcasts.
If the city council passes the law, the city of L.A. would not be allowed to use any resources, including city personnel, to help the feds enforce immigration laws.
On Nov. 11, Mayor Karen Bass told KNX News’ Craig Fiegener that she recently realized the city didn’t have a sanctuary city law.
“I was actually surprised about that because I thought we were a sanctuary city for years,” she said. “So what the difference is is the policies that were put in place were not permanent policies. So I imagine that the council will be voting on sanctuary cities hopefully very, very soon.”
In 2019, former Mayor Eric Garcetti signed an executive directive declaring Los Angeles a sanctuary city; however, it was not voted into an enforceable law.
On Nov. 12, City News Service reported that Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto “worked to expedite” releasing the proposed ordinance.
Jorge-Mario Cabrera, Director of Communications for the Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA), told KNX News’ Jon Baird that making L.A. a sanctuary city is long overdue.
“It's been a request that we made of the city many years ago, especially when the first Trump administration came and we considered it necessary for the safety of all Angelenos regardless of their immigration status,” he said.
He said he hops that city council passes the law.
“There's no doubt in our mind that given the threats by the new incoming administration, that [the Trump administration] will go after pretty much everybody. The safety of our families, of all Angelenos is paramount.”
In an interview with KNX News’ Chief Correspondent Charles Feldman, new LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell said it’s not in the department’s interest to work with ICE.
“I think that in order for a police agency to operate effectively, you have to have the trust of the people that you serve,” he said. “If a big percentage of the population believes that the Los Angeles Police Department is working to do, as has been speculated, roundups, or working with ICE to determine immigration status and assisting them in their efforts in that regard, that erodes trust.”
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Unified School District Board could vote on four resolutions aimed at protecting immigrants, their families, and those in the LGBTQIA+ community.
One of the resolutions, according to the Los Angeles Times, would have LAUSD Superintendent Alberto Carvalho create a plan to incorporate training for teachers, administrators, and others on how to deal or maybe not deal with federal immigration officials when they come around asking for information on students, family, and staff members.
“It means that school police will not assist ICE. It means that ICE is not welcome on our campuses,” board president Jackie Goldberg told KNX News’ Jon Baird.
Goldberg called this her parting shot as she heads into retirement.
Follow KNX News 97.1 FM
Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok