Category: Become

Calif: Huntington Beach Defies Gov. Newsom, Unanimously Votes To Become ‘Non-Sanctuary City’

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 28: An aerial view of Huntington Beach and its shuttered pier amid the coronavirus pandemic on March 28, 2020 in Huntington Beach, California. The city of Huntington Beach has closed its pier and parking lots along the beach in efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 although the beach itself remains open. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
An aerial view of Huntington Beach and its shuttered pier amid the coronavirus pandemic on March 28, 2020 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
4:11 PM – Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Huntington Beach, California, city council members unanimously voted to become a “non-sanctuary” city, defying Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom’s anticipated plans for the state during President Donald Trump’s second term.

“As the City Council Members commented, the intent of this Resolution is to deliberately sidestep the Governor’s efforts to subvert the good work of federal immigration authorities and to announce the City’s cooperation with the federal government, the Trump Administration, and Border Czar Tom Homan’s work,” the lawmakers wrote.

“This new City policy and Declaration is common sense, supports our law enforcement, and advances public safety throughout the City. What the Governor is doing does not. Neither the Governor nor the State Legislature with the passage of laws, may interfere with the City’s voluntary cooperation with federal authorities, nor cause or compel the City to violate federal laws such as Title 8 Section 1324 for the harboring of illegal immigrants,” the statement continued.

Newsom (D-Calif.) has openly vowed to “Trump-proof” the Golden State by proposing a legal defense fund of up to $50 million, paid for by California taxpayers for the state’s Department of Justice — “fighting back” against Trump’s policies on “climate change, immigration, and abortion.”

Meanwhile, social media users have argued that since Trump has already promised he would leave the abortion decision up to the states, and it is extremely unlikely that California will ever turn into a majority conservative state, the inclusion of abortion in the “anti-Trump” legal defense plan is unclear and doesn’t add up. Many Californians have also questioned whether this is a money grab ploy.

“This funding agreement cements California’s readiness to serve as a bulwark against Trump’s extremist agenda,” stated Senate Budget Chair Scott Weiner.

Huntington Beach Mayor Pat Burns introduced the resolution to “deliberately sidestep the Governor’s efforts to subvert the good work of federal immigration authorities and to announce the city’s cooperation with the federal government, the Trump Administration and Border Czar Tom Homan’s work.”

“In California in particular, fighting crime is difficult enough with the relaxed criminal laws and lack of enforcement. The State should get out of the way of local law enforcement, stop handcuffing our police officers and California’s cities, and get back to the business of protecting innocent citizens. Emphatically, the State should not take a position of violating federal immigration laws or encouraging cities to violate federal immigration laws,” added Huntington Beach City Attorney Michael Gates.

The new “non-sanctuary city” legislation took effect immediately.

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Los Angeles To Become ‘Sanctuary’ City

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass stands at an encampment during an Inside Safe operation on September 26, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Abril Elfi
6:00 PM – Tuesday, November 19, 2024

The Los Angeles City Council has unanimously passed a “sanctuary city” ordinance in order to “protect” illegal migrants from being deported.  

On Tuesday, the council passed the ordinance on a 13-0 vote, which L.A. officials claim will codify the protection of migrants in municipal law.  

The vote follows President-elect Donald Trump’s recent vow to authorize the U.S. military or National Guard to carry out mass deportations of illegal immigrants as soon as he’s back in the White House.

Meanwhile, Councilmember Nithya Raman, who hails from India, had a few words to say in regards to Trump’s promise.

“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,” said Raman, whose family moved to the U.S. from India when she was six years old.

“I am who I am today because of immigrants—people like my parents, extended family, and the community who raised me,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez. “The same is true for Los Angeles, a city built on the dreams and labor of generations of immigrants. We will not allow hateful rhetoric or destructive policies to tear families apart or dim the light of their contributions.” Today, we declare to the nation that Los Angeles thrives because of immigrants, and we are better because of their work and contributions.”

Los Angeles, the nation’s second-largest city, is home to an estimated 951,000 illegal immigrants, according to the Migration Policy Institute. However, some have disputed this number and believe that it is much higher.

Meanwhile, Republican leaders in Los Angeles condemned Tuesday’s vote, labeling it as misguided.

“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,” said Roxanne Hodge, communications director for the Republican Party of Los Angeles County. “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.”

The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved a “sanctuary city” resolution on Monday, coinciding with the City Council vote. The resolution directs LAUSD teachers and staff to receive training on how to respond if contacted by federal immigration officials.

On Monday, President-elect Trump recirculated a social media post implying that his administration would declare illegal immigration a national emergency while utilizing military resources to deport those who are here illegally.

While running for president, Trump promised deportations under the Alien Enemies Act, an 18th-century law that allows for the summary detention and removal of any foreign national over the age of 14 who comes from a country at war with the U.S.

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