On Tuesday, the Los Angeles City Council passed an ordinance designating the city as a “sanctuary city,” which prevents the use of city resources for immigration enforcement and restricts city departments from sharing information about individuals without legal status with federal immigration authorities. This action comes in response to fears of mass deportations anticipated under President-elect Donald Trump.

The council unanimously supported the measure, aligning with numerous cities across the nation that have adopted similar regulations. While “sanctuary city” is not a legal designation, it has come to represent a commitment to safeguarding immigrant communities by refusing to voluntarily offer information to immigration enforcement officials. Proponents argue that such cities provide safe spaces for immigrants, encouraging them to report crimes without the threat of deportation hanging over them.

The ordinance will return to the council for a second vote as a procedural formality. Mayor Karen Bass, who has the authority to veto the measure, has indicated her support for it.

In light of Trump’s anticipated aggressive immigration policies once he resumes office in January, advocates for immigration reform pressed council members to act promptly.

“We’re going to send a very clear message that the city of Los Angeles will not cooperate with ICE in any way,” stated councilmember Hugo Soto-Martinez, referring to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. “We want people to feel protected and be able to have faith in their government and that women can report domestic violence, crimes.”

Soto-Martinez, who was instrumental in introducing the initial motion last year, shared that both his parents and many constituents are immigrants living without legal status. He expressed that they are “embedded in the larger community,” contributing to society through various roles such as caregivers and domestic workers.

However, the practical impact of the ordinance remains uncertain, as the city already maintains a non-cooperation stance with federal immigration authorities.

The Los Angeles Police Department has established guidelines that prevent officers from questioning individuals about their immigration status or making arrests based solely on legal status. New police chief Jim McDonnell has also vowed not to engage in activities related to mass deportations or collaborate with federal immigration enforcement.

Former Mayor Eric Garcetti enacted an executive directive in 2019 to protect immigrants, but the new ordinance aims to formalize those protections into city law.

California has enacted similar protections on a state level. In 2017, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation which prohibits police from inquiring about immigration status or involving themselves in federal immigration enforcement.

In response to these sanctuary policies, former President Trump attempted to cut funding for sanctuary cities and incentivize cooperation by favoritism in federal grants.

From New York to San Francisco, cities have long had initiatives aimed at supporting immigrants, but the increasing number of migrants sparked criticism of such policies. This backlash intensified when Republican governors from Texas and Florida began sending migrants to Democratic-led sanctuary cities, actions some have labeled as political ploys.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has expressed a need for increased collaboration between local police and federal immigration authorities, contending that current city policies that limit such interactions are harmful to public safety.

While Los Angeles experienced a smaller influx of migrants, some were bussed to the city as well.

Before the council vote on Tuesday, over 100 advocates gathered on the steps of City Hall, urging the council to support the ordinance.

Martha Arévalo, director of the Central American Resource Center in LA, deemed the law “long overdue.”

“This is Trump 2.0 where he ran on a platform of hate and division and separating families and mass deportations,” Arevalo asserted. “It’s traumatic to the immigrant community. There’s a lot of trauma, there’s a lot of fear.”

Many advocates for the sanctuary city measure, including individuals without legal status, shared their personal encounters with the constant threat of deportation.

“I grew up in the shadows, constantly fearing separation from my loved ones and being sent back to a place we had fought so hard to escape,” recalled Jesus Carreon, a Harvard Law School student and USC graduate, imploring the council to endorse the sanctuary policy.

Concerns were also raised that the ordinance might incentivize more individuals without legal status to migrate to the city, thereby diverting resources needed for addressing homelessness.

“I’m sure there’s millions of people that want to come to LA and we can’t be a sanctuary city for everybody,” Charles Brister voiced to the city council prior to the vote. “We have people in this city who don’t have beds, American citizens who are homeless.”

Mayor Bass emphasized that “this moment demands urgency. Immigrant protections make our communities stronger and our city better.”