Los Angeles Releases Draft Sanctuary City Ordinance

Los Angeles has released a draft for a 'Sanctuary City' ordinance aimed at preventing city resources from aiding federal immigration enforcement, a move expected to clash with the incoming Trump administration's immigration policies. Mayor Karen Bass and City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto worked on the draft after consultations with immigrant rights groups, and the City Council's committees will review it soon. Council member Eunisses Hernandez emphasized the necessity of codifying protections for the city's 1.3 million immigrants, arguing that symbolic measures are insufficient in light of Trump's anticipated crackdown on undocumented residents. Despite California being a sanctuary state since 2014, the formal ordinance would strengthen existing policies against cooperation with federal authorities. Critics, including immigration policy experts, argue that such sanctuary policies could hinder public safety by limiting information sharing between local and federal law enforcement. The ordinance's approval process comes amid rising tensions surrounding immigration enforcement under a new federal administration.