Amidst the destruction of whole neighborhoods in Los Angeles due to wildfires, the city council members in nearby Long Beach have voted to strengthen their sanctuary city policies in defiance of President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed mass deportations.
Long Beach is the latest Democrat-controlled city to resist the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. The new measure includes allocating an extra $200,000 in city funding to provide free legal representation to immigrants facing deportation.
Reported by the local outlet Long Beach Post, the council’s decision to reinforce the “Long Beach Values Act” was made on Tuesday, building upon the act originally passed during Trump’s first presidency in 2017.
PHOTO GALLERY: CALIFORNIA WILDFIRES BEFORE AND AFTER
A U.S. Border Patrol agent (R) speaks to immigrants before they are transported from a makeshift camp between border walls, between the U.S. and Mexico, on May 13, 2023, in San Diego, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Prior to the vote, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, a Democrat, expressed, “Today, we find ourselves preparing for again an administration that outwardly challenged some of our values and beliefs.”
“It’s going to be a challenge – these next few years – but I’m confident, if we continue to work together, continue to support one another, we’re going to get through this,” Richardson affirmed. “No matter who is in power in Washington, I believe that we have a responsibility to stand firm on our principles, so all of our residents feel safe and seen and protected regardless of how they pray, or who they love or where they were born.”
The additional $200,000 funding supplements the existing $1.1 million provided to immigrants through the “Long Beach Justice Fund” for legal representation against removal.
The measure also bars third-party city contractors from sharing city data with federal immigration enforcement and urges other city authorities to align with the Long Beach Values Act.
AMERICANS FAVOR TRUMP ON IMMIGRATION, SUPPORT MASS DEPORTATION OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, POLL FINDS
Immigrants line up at a remote U.S. Border Patrol processing center after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on Dec. 7, 2023 in Lukeville, Arizona. (John Moore/Getty Images)
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The passing of the measure was praised by local immigrant rights activist group Órale, hailing it as a “significant step towards true sanctuary status that will tangibly improve our community members’ lives.”
Despite Richardson’s assurance in resisting Trump’s agenda, a memo from Deputy City Manager Meredith Reynolds to city officials on Dec. 31 warned that Long Beach could lose federal funding if they do not cooperate with immigration authorities, as reported by the Long Beach Post.
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Trump’s incoming border czar Tom Homan cautioned in November that local officials hindering ICE or federal authorities from enforcing the law will face repercussions.
“Don’t cross that line because it is a felony to harbor and conceal an illegal alien from ICE,” emphasized Homan.
