On November 19, Los Angeles County City Council unanimously passed its “sanctuary city” ordinance in preparation for newly re-elected President Donald J Trump’s ‘mass deportation’ plan. The new ordinance will limit or deny cooperation from nationally enforced immigration laws.
LA’s 6th council district Imelda Padilla, stated that Los Angeles will not repeat what had happened in the 1950s and 70s with mass deportations of immigrants.
Arguments made in favor of the ordinance pointed out that the plan puts migrants in danger and the connection with them and law enforcement will be diminished forcing them to be in the dark. Undocumented victims will be afraid of coming forward to the police.
Why now?
In Chapter two of Trump’s “2024 GOP PLATFORM MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” titled “SEAL THE BORDER, AND STOP THE MIGRANT INVASION”, he lists six points, detailing how he will take control of the United States Borders. Trump states that he will “…invoke the Alien Enemies Act to remove all known or suspected gang members, drug dealers or cartel members from the United States…”
The Alien Enemies Act was enacted in 1798 in anticipation of war with France. It can only be used by the president if there is a declaration of war, an invasion or threats of invasion by a nation or government.
Last time it was used was in 1941 after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, where it had sent German, Italian and Japanese non-citizens to internment camps across the United States.
Reaction from Opposition
Roxanne Hoge, Communications Director from Los Angeles County Republican Party said, “So-called “sanctuary” cities and states sound warm and fuzzy, but the protections they offer aren’t for abuelas getting ice cream, they’re for people who’ve entered the country illegally and committed additional crimes. Whether drunk driving, robbery, sexual violence, assault or murder, none of those should go unpunished. Perpetrators should definitely not be protected by the largesse taken from hard-working taxpayers.”
Trump also states in Chapter two that, “Republicans will cut federal funding to sanctuary jurisdictions that release dangerous Illegal Alien criminals onto our streets, rather than handing them over to ICE.”
For more information on undocumented immigrant resources, click here.