IN a decisive move to protect immigrant communities ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s anticipated crackdown on immigration, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a “sanctuary city” ordinance on Tuesday, November 19.
The ordinance, which formalizes the city’s policy of non-cooperation with federal immigration authorities, is aimed at safeguarding residents without legal status from potential mass deportations. It stems from a motion introduced by Councilmembers Nithya Raman, Eunisses Hernandez, and Hugo Soto-Martinez and adopted unanimously in 2023.
The ordinance bars city resources from being used for immigration enforcement and prohibits city departments from sharing personal information about individuals with federal agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). While Los Angeles already maintains policies limiting collaboration with immigration enforcement, Tuesday’s vote codifies these protections into city law.
“I came to this country with my mother as an immigrant when I was six years old, arriving in the United States because we sought a better life, and I am so grateful for the opportunities this country has given me and my family,” said Raman. “Immigrants make up the very fabric of Los Angeles and they deserve to feel safe and protected in the city they call home, no matter who is in power. Prohibiting the use of City resources for federal immigration enforcement shouldn’t depend only on executive actions that could be overturned by a future Mayor or Police Chief. This is common sense policy for LA.”
Mayor Karen Bass, a vocal supporter of immigrant rights, is expected to sign the ordinance, which would go into effect within 10 days of her signature.
“This moment demands urgency,” Bass said in a statement earlier in November ahead of the City Council vote. “Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better…Solidarity is an action, not rhetoric. Los Angeles stands together.”
More than 100 advocates rallied on the steps of City Hall ahead of the vote, sharing personal stories of living under the constant threat of deportation. Many highlighted the trauma experienced by families during Trump’s first term and the chilling effect it had on immigrants reporting crimes or seeking city services.
The ordinance positions Los Angeles alongside cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco, which have long-standing policies supporting immigrant communities. Yet, these measures remain politically divisive, with critics arguing they undermine federal immigration law and public safety.
During his first term, Trump sought to penalize sanctuary cities by withholding federal funds, a move later blocked by courts. Now, with his return to office on the horizon, advocates fear he will intensify efforts to dismantle such protections.
With Trump set to take office in January, immigrant rights organizations are bracing for renewed battles over federal immigration enforcement. In Los Angeles, the ordinance serves as both a shield for vulnerable populations and a declaration of the city’s values.
The City of Los Angeles is home to more than 1.35 million immigrants, comprising over 34 percent of the city’s population. In fact, a majority of school children in the Los Angeles metro area, including both U.S. citizens and non-citizens, have at least one immigrant parent.
“More than one out of three people who live in Los Angeles, including my own parents, are immigrants. One in ten are undocumented,” said Soto-Martinez. “We refuse to stand by and let Donald Trump deport our neighbors, family, friends, and coworkers.”
While the City Council had previously passed a resolution declaring Los Angeles a “City of Sanctuary” in 2017, no sanctuary policies were codified into municipal law. The City’s current relationship with federal immigration agencies is shaped by an executive directive issued by former Mayor Eric Garcetti and internal LAPD policies. These policies are subject to change under future administrations and have yet to be enshrined as permanent protections for Los Angeles immigrants.
The newly adopted ordinance permanently enshrines sanctuary policies into municipal law and prohibits the use of City resources, including property and personnel, from being utilized for immigration enforcement or to cooperate with federal immigration agents engaged in immigration enforcement. Critically, the Ordinance also prohibits the direct and indirect sharing of data with federal immigration authorities – an important gap to close in our city’s protections for immigrants.
“We applaud the Councilmembers who voted today in support of a Sanctuary Ordinance that will defend immigrant Angelenos,” said Shiu-Ming Cheer, Deputy Director at the California Immigrant Policy Center. “With this important step, Los Angeles will no longer support the unjust and racist immigration detention and deportation system. Local resources should be put into supporting immigrant families, not tearing them apart.”
