Santa Cruz has long been known as a “Sanctuary City,” which means it does not spend its resources on deporting illegal immigrants. That could soon be changing, though, after a contentious City Council meeting on Tuesday. In the end, councilmembers voted 4-3 not to support new state legislation allowing local authorities to opt out of a federal immigration reporting-and-detention program. The majority decided that it was not the role of city council to advise the sheriff’s office on how to respond to federal issues.
Santa Cruz has long been known as a “Sanctuary City,” which means it does not spend its resources on deporting illegal immigrants. That could soon be changing, though, after a contentious City Council meeting on Tuesday. In the end, councilmembers voted 4-3 not to support new state legislation allowing local authorities to opt out of a federal immigration reporting-and-detention program. The majority decided that it was not the role of city council to advise the sheriff’s office on how to respond to federal issues.
At the same time, the mayor said that the city would not support any measure that would ease the deportation process. Instead, Mayor Ryan Coonerty released a statement urging authorities on all levels “to protect public safety and civil liberties.” On the other hand, the decision reveals a trend among city officials to focus their attention on municipal issues instead of more controversial national issues. Read more at the Santa Cruz Sentinel.
