Long Beach Doubles Down on Sanctuary City Policies, Vowing to Resist Trump's Deportation Plans

Long Beach Doubles Down on Sanctuary City Policies, Vowing to Resist Trump's Deportation Plans

As wildfires raged across Los Angeles, Long Beach City Council members took a defiant stand, voting to strengthen their sanctuary city policies and resist President-elect Donald Trump's plans for mass deportations.

This move adds Long Beach to a growing list of Democrat-controlled cities and states vowing to oppose the Trump administration's crackdown on illegal immigration. The measure includes allocating an additional $200,000 in city funding to provide free legal representation to immigrants facing deportation.

The Long Beach Post reported that the council voted on Tuesday to further bolster the "Long Beach Values Act," initially passed during Trump's first term in 2017.

"Today, we find ourselves preparing for again an administration that outwardly challenged some of our values and beliefs," stated Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, a Democrat, before the vote.

"It’s going to be a challenge – these next few years – but I’m confident, if we continue to work together, continue to support one another, we’re going to get through this," Richardson added. "No matter who is in power in Washington, I believe that we have a responsibility to stand firm on our principles, so all of our residents feel safe and seen and protected regardless of how they pray, or who they love or where they were born."

This additional $200,000 adds to the existing $1.1 million available to immigrants for legal representation against removal through the "Long Beach Justice Fund."

The measure also prohibits third-party city contractors from sharing city data with federal immigration enforcement and requests that other city authorities, including police oversight, the city attorney, city prosecutor, and city auditor, formally commit to complying with the Long Beach Values Act.

Local immigrant rights activist group Órale celebrated the measure's passage, calling it a "significant step towards true sanctuary status that will tangibly improve our community members' lives."

Despite Richardson's confidence in resisting Trump's agenda, the Long Beach Post reported that a Dec. 31 memo by Deputy City Manager Meredith Reynolds to city officials warned that Long Beach could lose millions in federal funding if they do not cooperate with immigration authorities.

Trump's incoming border czar Tom Homan told Fox News in November that local officials who obstruct ICE or federal authorities from enforcing the law will face consequences.

"Don’t cross that line because it is a felony to harbor and conceal an illegal alien from ICE," said Homan.