In brief
Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US, prepares to challenge incoming President Donald Trump's immigration agenda by passing a sanctuary city ordinance and designating its public school system as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ students.
Los Angeles is bracing for a confrontation over immigration policies with the incoming administration of Donald Trump. On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council is expected to approve an ordinance declaring the city a "sanctuary," which restricts the use of local resources to assist federal immigration authorities. This move comes as Trump, who is set to take office in two months, has committed to mass deportations and has expressed opposition to sanctuary cities.The Los Angeles public school system plans to adopt similar measures under emergency resolutions aimed at protecting undocumented immigrants and LGBTQ students. Council member Nithya Raman informed CBS News that the proposed ordinance transforms a 2019 executive order into city law, preventing federal immigration enforcement from accessing city facilities or utilizing city resources. It also imposes restrictions on data sharing, reflecting a wider trend as cities like Boston and New York have pledged to limit their assistance to federal immigration initiatives.Trump's appointee, Tim Homan, has previously branded sanctuary cities as impediments to federal immigration enforcement efforts. In response to these threats, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has expedited voting on the sanctuary city ordinance, reinforcing the city's commitment to protecting its diverse population. With a significant number of mixed families and undocumented individuals residing in California, local officials are also preparing to bolster resources for students and their families. The Los Angeles school district is expected to vote on emergency resolutions that reaffirm its commitment to immigrant students, countering what board president Jackie Goldberg describes as rising anti-immigrant sentiment from the incoming administration. Goldberg stated, "We're not going to be running in fear. We're going to fight you, every inch of the way." Among the proposed resolutions is a high school course designed to increase awareness of current events and enhance non-discrimination policies, which will now extend to students' families and employees.Under federal law, public schools in the US cannot discriminate based on immigration status, although local jurisdiction largely drives oversight. In California, where undocumented populations are significant, officials are prohibited from inquiring about students' immigration status, further solidifying the city’s sanctuary designation amidst a contentious political landscape.
