Published: June 16, 2010
Updated: June 17, 2010 8:38 a.m.

Round two for Cypress councilman on immigration

By MICHAEL MELLO
THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

CYPRESS - At first, Councilman Phil Luebben didn't succeed, so he's trying again.

Luebben has asked the city clerk to place two new resolutions inspired by Arizona's controversial immigration law on the agenda for the next City Council meeting.

Cypress City Councilman Phil Luebben wants his fellow council members to pass resolutions condemning boycotts of Arizona businesses, and make it city policy to support enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The request came two days after his original resolutions died because four of five city councilmen refused to support them. At the time, Luebben called the failure of the first resolution "meaningless," saying it was more important that the subject was broached.

One of the resolutions criticizes Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Ana and other California cities for opposing the Arizona law and promoting boycotts against Arizona. The other would make it official Cypress policy to support enforcement of federal immigration laws.

The new resolutions are nearly identical to the first, but each has a new paragraph inserted into it.

The first resolution now names President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder, and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido. It says they, "usually without even reading Arizona's SB1070, have irresponsibly condemned the law and publicly chastised the state of Arizona."

The second now declares Cypress would be a "Rule of Law" city where enforcement of immigration laws is welcome. Orange and Costa Mesa have passed similar declarations.

Both of the original resolutions died Monday without a vote because no one on the council would second Luebben's motion to approve them.
Luebben could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Santa Ana's Pulido said he has not read all of the Arizona law, but he has read portions dealing with local government.

The Arizona law requires law enforcement officers who have already stopped someone on suspicion of a violation to question that person about his or her immigration status if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be in the country illegally. The law is due to go into effect next month.

"The portion I've read dealing with local government I believe is unconstitutional," Pulido said, in part, because it asks local law enforcement officials to enforce federal immigration laws.

"Our primary responsibility as a local government is public safety," Pulido said. "I believe it's incorrect to ask (police) to take on other charges. They're very, very busy doing what they do.

"I have spoken to mayors in Arizona, including Mayor (Phil) Gordon in Phoenix, and they share these views of local government,"

That being said, Pulido emphasized Santa Ana is not a sanctuary city. Felony suspects booked into the Santa Ana Jail get screened for immigration status, he said.

Cypress City Clerk Denise Basham confirmed Luebben's latest proposed resolutions will be added to the June 28 City Council agenda.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3796 or mmello@ocregister.com

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