Los Angeles City Council Adopts Sanctuary Ordinance

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously passed a "sanctuary city" ordinance to protect immigrants and LGBTQ youth, in direct response to President-elect Donald Trump's immigration policies, which include mass deportations. This ordinance prohibits the use of city resources for federal immigration enforcement and follows the Los Angeles Unified School District's adoption of emergency resolutions to support immigrant families and LGBTQ individuals. Mayor Karen Bass expressed urgency in implementing these measures due to the anticipated restrictive policies from the incoming administration. Trump has previously vowed to declare illegal immigration a national emergency, and his chosen "border czar" has warned sanctuary cities to expect federal crackdowns. The sanctuary city designation is part of a broader trend among cities to limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities, as seen in other major cities like Boston and New York. Local officials emphasize that these protections are crucial for maintaining community strength amidst growing threats to immigrant populations.