A Southern California city with a large migrant population is considering a proposal to revoke the city’s sanctuary city status, sparking a backlash from residents.
The proposal, discussed this week by the El Cajon City Council in San Diego, would also help federal immigration authorities in their deportation efforts “to the maximum extent legally permitted.” President-elect Donald Trump announced his intention implement a multi-billion dollar mass deportation plan.
City council members discussed “the possibility of declaring the city of El Cajon a non-sanctuary city,” according to the minutes from the meeting.
Mayor Bill Wells, who proposed the resolution, said the move was an attempt to clarify the city’s legal responsibilities from California Senate Bill 54 prohibits local police from assisting federal immigration efforts.
Federal ICE officer. (ICE)
“We have the federal government saying we could be prosecuted if we don’t cooperate with them, we have the state government saying our police officers could be prosecuted if they cooperate with the federal government,” Wells told CBS 8.
After Trump won a second term, California Governor Gavin Newsom promised to “Resistant to Trump“California Laws.
The vote on the controversial resolution was postponed after the reaction of the local population, CBS 8 reported. The decision will be returned to the city administration for revision.
Human rights advocate Pedro Rios of the American Friends Service Committee told CBS 8 the resolution is an attempt to “instill fear.”
“It’s driven by an anti-immigrant fervor that’s troubling for El Cajon residents who might fear that the police will suddenly come after them for papers,” he said.
“It will destroy the lives of so many families who just want to work in peace,” another resident said. A third said the resolution would make the city feel like a “police state against brown people.”
San Diego skyline. (George Rose/Getty Images)
“This is not about taking over our police and turning them into border patrol agents, this is about working with the federal government and following the law,” Wells said.
“It is not our intention to take our police department and arrest people, that is not our intention at all,” he added.
Another point of contention was opposition to the arrest of “good” citizens who are in the city illegally.
“The city remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of its residents, especially those most vulnerable to criminal activities such as human trafficking and drug distribution,” the resolution said, according to meeting minutes.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the city for comment.
