Long Beach leaders on Tuesday embraced a local “sanctuary city” policy that would expand protections for its immigrant communities beyond those under consideration at the state level.
The City Council on Tuesday voted 7-1 to direct the Long Beach Office of Equity to collaborate with immigrants rights organizations and the city’s three educational institutions to recommend a local policy, dubbed the Long Beach Values Act.
The item was introduced by Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez, whose said the policy is close to home for her as the daughter of an immigrant.
“If it wasn’t for my mother’s and my grandmother’s sacrifices to come here, I certainly wouldn’t be sitting in this seat,” she said, “and I don’t think they ever thought that, as immigrants, that their daughter or granddaughter would be now pushing policies to protect our communities.”
The Long Beach Values Act expands on protections outlined in Senate Bill 54, the “sanctuary state” legislation that has been sent to the governor’s desk for consideration. The statewide bill, called the California Values Act, aims to curb the use of local and state public resources in aiding federal immigration agents’ deportation actions.
The local law aims to set aside legal resources for DACA recipients as well as to increase advocacy for and protection from deportations in immigrant communities. Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, is a program enacted by the Obama administration in 2012, via executive order, that provides a presidential pass from deportation for eligible immigrant youth who came to the country when they were children. There are several thousand recipients in Long Beach, including students enrolled in local schools and college campuses.
Stories shared with the council on Tuesday detailed a growing fear in immigrant communities of impending deportation, and of retaliation by landlords or employers who have threatened to report undocumented individuals if they asked for fair wages or complained about living conditions.
One undocumented woman who spoke at Tuesday’s meeting shared stories of Long Beach children who don’t want to go to school because they are afraid one or both of their parents could get deported while they are away.
“It makes me really sad seeing these kids face that kind of trauma,” said the woman, who did not share her name because of her status.
The decision to add DACA protections to the local law came after President Donald Trump this month announced intentions to phase out the program, which has benefited about 800,000 young immigrants since it was enacted five years ago. Congress is working to cut a deal with the president that would enshrine protections in exchange for increased spending on border security. If an agreement is not reached, DACA would sunset in March.
Councilwoman Suzie Price, who immigrated to the U.S. from Iran with her mother when she was 7, said she was grateful she could support the creation of a local policy.
“I believe that we live in a country that should be doing everything that we can to help people find comfort and freedom here,” she said.
The dissenting vote Tuesday came from Councilwoman Stacy Mungo, who was concerned the item did not go before the city’s state legislative committee, which reviews and recommends support for or opposition to proposed statewide policies.
“I support ‘Dreamers,’ I support state law, but I really wish we would follow our own process,” she said.
A proposed ordinance is expected to return to the council sometime in November for consideration.