Leaders of a Southern California city, fed up with the state's immigration policies, have voted to ignore the state's sanctuary law and become a “non-sanctuary” city.
The resolution was approved unanimously by the Huntington Beach City Council Tuesday night, 7-0. Mayor Pat Burns, who introduced the “Cities Sanctuary for Illegal Immigrants to Prevent Crime” bill, called the move a matter of public safety.
“It is in the best interest of our community, Huntington Beach, to ensure that all aspects of law enforcement are utilized to make Huntington Beach a better place to live,” said Burns, a former law enforcement officer. Barnes, a former law enforcement officer, said at Tuesday's meeting. A small bust of President Donald Trump.
The measure directs city police officers to work with federal immigration authorities and notify them when releasing undocumented immigrants from jail.
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Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns introduced a resolution that would make the Southern California city a “non-sanctuary” city. (City of Huntington Beach)
Resolution 'deliberately avoided'[s] “This is the governor's effort to subvert the good intentions of federal immigration authorities and demonstrate the city's cooperation with the activities of the federal government, the Trump administration, and Border Czar Tom Homan,” the city said in a news release.
Sanctuary cities prohibit law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal immigration authorities. The practice has come under intense scrutiny as it protects illegal immigrants who are criminals from being deported.
President Donald Trump (left) and border czar Tom Homan. (Getty Images)
In addition to the resolution, Huntington Beach is suing the state, arguing that the sanctuary state law is unconstitutional.
Before the vote, City Councilman Chad Williams criticized state lawmakers for enacting policies that protect illegal immigrants, including those convicted of violent crimes.
“If we want to voluntarily cooperate with federal authorities to protect our communities, that is absolutely our prerogative,” he said. “It's just basic common sense. Why wouldn't we want to use every tool available to us to keep our community safe?”
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Huntington Beach, California, declared itself a “non-sanctuary” city. City leaders said they would cooperate with federal immigration authorities. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson)
The resolution cites crimes committed by illegal immigrants on behalf of criminal organizations such as MS-13 and Torren de Aragua, which terrorized residents of a Colorado apartment complex. The suspicion attracted widespread attention.
Tuesday's vote came weeks after California Governor Gavin Newsom proposed a “counter-Trump” legal defense fund of up to $25 million to the California Department of Justice. President Trump has promised to target illegal immigrants who are criminals for deportation.
“Fighting crime is difficult enough, especially in California, with relaxed criminal laws and a lack of enforcement. The state is stepping out of the way of local law enforcement and handcuffing police officers and California cities.” He should stop doing this and get back to his business of crime, protecting innocent citizens,'' Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates said in a press release.
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“I want to emphasize that states should not take positions that violate federal immigration law or encourage cities to violate federal immigration law.”
