A diverse city in California is contemplating a proposal to support Donald Trump’s plan for mass deportations, despite Governor Gavin Newsom’s opposition to it.
The El Cajon City Council in San Diego County discussed a motion to reverse its sanctuary city status and cooperate with Trump’s upcoming mass deportation efforts in his second term.
The President-elect vowed to enact a multi-billion dollar mass deportation plan targeting the millions of people residing in the US illegally.
While most of California opposes Trump’s deportation plans, Mayor Bill Wells claimed that his suggestion was merely to ensure compliance with federal regulations.
‘We have the federal government saying we could be prosecuted if we don’t cooperate with them, we’ve got the state government saying our police officers could be prosecuted if they do cooperate with the federal government,’ Wells said.Â
A vote on the motion was postposed early this week after a heated reaction from the community during a council meeting.
Local human rights advocate Pedro Rios blasted the effort as a response to ‘fear-mongering’ from federal officials.Â
“It is driven by an anti-immigrant fervor that is concerning for residents in El Cajon who might fear that suddenly the police will be after them, asking them for papers,” Rios told CBS 8.Â
Mayor Wells insisted that the measure would not lead to drastic action from local officials.Â
‘This is not about taking our police force and turning them into Border Patrol agents, this is about cooperating with the federal government and following the law,’ he said.
One of California ‘s most multicultural towns could soon back Donald Trump ‘s mass deportation policy in a move directly contradicting Governor Gavin Newsom ‘s pledge
The President-elect vowed to enact a multi-billion dollar mass deportation plan targeting the millions of people residing in the US illegally
‘The intention is not to take our police department and have them rounding people up, that’s not the intention at all.’Â
The latest census data in El Cajun reveals of the city’s 106,000 residents, 87.6 per cent are citizens and 28.7 per cent were born outside of the country.
As it stands, California’s sanctuary city laws limit cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement, who cannot ask about a person’s immigration status or alert officials about a prisoner’s release date.
According to minutes from the meeting, councilors discussed ‘the possibility of declaring the City of El Cajon as a non-sanctuary city.’
The city of Los Angeles reaffirmed its sanctuary status in late December, with Mayor Karen Bass declaring that ‘immigrant protection make our communities stronger and our city better.’Â
Another part of the discussion was outspoken opposition to ‘arresting ”good” citizens who are in the city illegally.’Â
As per the minutes, the resolution states: ‘The City remains steadfast in its commitment to protecting the safety and well-being of its residents, particularly those most vulnerable to criminal activities such as human trafficking and drug distribution.’
In a letter sent to California Attorney General Rob Bonta from Wells, he explained that he is worried about State Senate Bill 54, which limits a local police force’s powers to investigate, detain or arrest people for immigration violations.
Migrants trying to cross over a fence at the US-Mexico border. As it stands, California’s sanctuary city laws limit cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local law enforcement, who cannot ask about a person’s immigration status or alert officials about a prisoner’s release date
People hold signs during a San Diego County board of supervisors meeting Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, in San Diego
Trump clinched the presidential election after a campaign that promised large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants and a return to fast-tracked deportations to Mexico
‘While we appreciate the underlying purpose of SB 54, the incoming federal administration has an entirely different viewpoint on the issue,’ he wrote.Â
‘This divergence of opinion translates into a precarious legal position for cities, city council members, city management, and public safety personnel.
‘The City Council acknowledges that immigration enforcement is a complex and sensitive issue, touching on foundational principles of state and federal jurisdiction, public safety, and trust within our community.
‘The City expresses deep concern about its impact on protecting residents from individuals engaged in criminal activities, including gang involvement, human trafficking, and drug distribution.Â
‘These activities pose serious threats to public safety, particularly for vulnerable populations within our community.’
Wells cited a 2024 Immigration and Customs Enforcement report which suggested ‘there could be as many as 435,000 convicted criminals living in the U.S. illegally, many for violent crimes such as assault, sexual assault, prostitution, human trafficking, and child exploitation.Â
‘It is unknown how many of these individuals are in El Cajon or the San Diego region,’ he said, ‘however, if some of them are here, they pose a serious threat to our community.’
In the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, local governments have been outspoken in their assurances they will not assist any federal agencies seeking to increase deportations.
While the wider state of California is largely opposed to the proposal, Mayor Bill Wells said it is simply a matter of ‘staying compliant with federal law.’ It directly contradicts Governor Gavin Newsom’s promise to ‘Trump-proof’ state laws
California Governor Gavin Newsom sensationally demanded the state ‘Trump-proof’ its laws after Trump won a second term.Â
Trump clinched the presidential election after a campaign that promised large-scale deportations of undocumented migrants and a return to fast-tracked deportations to Mexico, in addition to halting entries across the US border with Mexico.Â
The president-elect’s proposed immigration policies also include ending birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants.
During his previous administration, between 2017 and 2021 Trump put in place policies that left hundreds of thousands of migrants stranded in camps along the Mexican border, reshaping U.S. immigration politics.
