Orange, Newport Beach join other CA. cities opposing California sanctuary law
Orange, Newport Beach join other Orange County cities opposing California sanctuary law
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File photo of Vaughn Becht of Westminster as he chants, “Build that wall, build that wall!” outside Aliso Viejo City Hall during a meeting discussing whether or not the city should file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the City of Los Alamitos and also the Orange County Board of Supervisors in United States V. State of California on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. (Photo by Drew A. Kelley, Contributing Photographer)
By ROXANA KOPETMAN | rkopetman@scng.com | Orange County Register
PUBLISHED: April 11, 2018 at 10:42 am | UPDATED: April 11, 2018 at 11:57 am
Elected officials in Orange and Newport Beach, following hours of emotional testimony from both sides of the sanctuary issue, voted late Tuesday to oppose a new California law that protects people living in the country illegally.
In Newport Beach, the City Council voted unanimously during closed session to support a federal lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against California. The Newport Beach council also voted 7-0 for a resolution that says the city is publicly opposed to the law.
In Orange, the council voted 3-2 for a resolution against the California Values Act, the law that limits cooperation between federal immigration agents and local law enforcement and provides protection to unauthorized immigrants in public schools, libraries and medical centers. The Orange resolution says the city will not comply with state law, but resolutions are largely symbolic and it’s unclear whether it will have any impact on day-to-day operations.
“It’s making our voice heard, and supporting the County of Orange who really is the one dealing with custody and ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) communication issues,” Councilman Fred Whitaker said in an e-mail Wednesday.
Opponents of illegal immigration hailed the latest votes as victories as the anti-sanctuary movement continues to gain momentum in Orange County.
In the past three weeks, cities that have passed resolutions or taken other measures to protest the state law are Los Alamitos, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, Yorba Linda, Aliso Viejo, Fountain Valley and San Juan Capistrano. Orange County has as well.
In Orange, Mayor Teresa Smith and Councilman Mike Alvarez voted against it. Smith said the ordinance undermined trust and inclusion in the community.
Alvarez said he would prefer to sit out the debate but would be interested in voting on something stronger that states, “We’re not a sanctuary city.”
Councilmen Whitaker and Mark Murphy brought the issue before the council. Councilwoman Kim Nichols joined them in support, saying that the California law is in conflict with federal laws.
Whitaker said Orange is “a welcoming city” but officials need to abide by the rule of law.
Several of the speakers in opposition of the law erroneously said that the California Values Act, known as California’s sanctuary law, prohibits communication between federal immigration agents and local law enforcement, barring cooperation between the agencies upon the release of potential deportable criminals from jail. Actually, the law limits but does not prohibit the two sides from working together.
The Westminster City Council is scheduled to take up the issue on Wednesday, April 11.
https://www.ocregister.com/2018/04/1...sanctuary-law/
