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Los Angeles passes 'sanctuary city' ordinance to protect migrants

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  • Los Angeles passes 'sanctuary city' ordinance to protect migrants
  • November 20, 2024
  • Article Body Text LOS ANGELES — <p>The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday unanimously passed a &quot;sanctuary city&quot; ordinance to protect immigrants living in the city, a policy that would prohibit the use of city resources and personnel to carry out federal immigration enforcement.</p> <p>The move by the Southern California city, the second most populated city in the U.S. after New York City, follows President-elect Donald Trump's vow to carry out mass deportations of immigrants.</p> <p>The ordinance codifies the protection of migrants in municipal law. Council member Paul Krekorian said the measure addresses &quot;the need to ensure that our immigrant community here in Los Angeles understands that we understand their fear.&quot;</p> <p>Pro-immigrant protesters spoke on the steps of Los Angeles City Hall before the vote, holding up signs saying, &quot;Los Angeles Sanctuary City Now!&quot; They chanted in Spanish &quot;What do we want? Sanctuary. When do we want it? Now.&quot;</p> <p>The city is home to 1.3 million migrants, council members said, without specifying how many entered the country legally.</p> <p>&quot;We are extremely concerned, given that this is a city where about a third of the population is immigrants,&quot; Shiu-Ming Cheer said at the rally. She is deputy director of immigrant and racial justice at the California Immigration Policy Center.</p> <p>People were &quot;afraid that the National Guard or other people are going to be forced to execute Trump's mass deportation plans,&quot; she said. &quot;But, you know, we're also organized.&quot;</p> <p>Eleven states have, to varying degrees, taken steps toward reducing cooperation with federal immigration enforcement, according to the non-profit Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Trump, winner of the Nov. 5 election, takes office on Jan. 20.</p> <p>The Trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment.</p>
  • Content Type Text
  • Language English
  • NewsML Media Topics Arts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
  • Subtitles / Dubbing Available No
  • Network VOA
  • Embargo Date November 19, 2024 22:31 EST
  • Byline Reuters
  • Brand / Language Service Voice of America - English
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