As President Donald Trump begins tackling his mass deportation promise, predominantly democratic cities, from Los Angeles to Boston, have passed policies to sidestep Trump’s deportation plans, reinforcing their position as sanctuary cities.
How Sanctuary Cities are Protecting Immigrants
In 2017, Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to make California a sanctuary state. Los Angeles and San Diego have followed suit to pass policies in order to protect immigrants in their communities from Trump’s deportation plans.
After Trump’s win in November, the local governments in Los Angeles and San Diego passed policies that prevent city resources from being utilized by the federal government for deportation. This means that local law enforcement is restricted from working with federal powers to deport immigrants in their cities.
Chicago, Denver, and Boston have enacted similar policies and prohibited law enforcement from being able to collect information from people about their immigration status. However, other cities, such as Douglas County, are ready to have their local law enforcement fully collaborate with the federal government’s deportation plans.
Justice Department Directs Federal Prosecutors to Investigate Sanctuary City Policies
The Justice Department has instructed federal prosecutors to investigate state and local officials who resist or fail to comply in full with new immigration policies from the Trump administration. This new directive will see the Justice Department join forces with the Sanctuary Cities Enforcement Working Group to pinpoint state and local laws that can prevent Trump’s deportation directive from being fully carried out and dispute them in court. In addition, officials at the state and local level will face increased scrutiny and possible investigations into any purported criminal activity. Sanctuary cities such as Los Angeles, and their officials, will be at risk as these new policies are carried out.
As new immigration developments emerge, it is important to stay up to date on immigration changes and be prepared. If you or your family are at risk for deportation, it is recommended to contact an experienced immigration attorney as soon as you can.
Contact an Immigration Lawyer Today
Reeves Immigration Law Group has over 40 years of experience working to keep families together and defending against deportation and removal. Our law firm prioritizes the immigrant community and will do everything in its power to protect these populations.
Contact us today to connect with an immigration attorney.
