El Cajon will not be getting involved in the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans.
On Tuesday, the city council narrowly rejected a resolution introduced by Mayor Bill Wells declaring the city’s intent to cooperate with federal immigration authorities to remove criminals from the city.
Steve Goble cast the deciding vote against Wells’ proposal. He said he didn’t want El Cajon becoming a political flashpoint.
Wells said his resolution was necessary because of a conflict between state law SB 54 and recent orders from the Trump administration. A new Justice Department memo calls for criminal prosecutions of any officials who obstruct, restrict, or refuse to comply with federal immigration actions. However, SB 54 prohibits the use of public resources for enforcing civil immigration matters.
Tuesday’s meeting was packed with participants, many of whom expressed fear for their undocumented friends and neighbors.
Councilmember Michelle Metschel said Wells’ proposal “makes us look like racists” and that she wanted no part of it.
But the council also rejected a watered-down resolution declaring the city’s intent to comply with federal immigration authorities when the target of enforcement has been convicted of a violent crime.
Some residents said they fear the Trump administration would use public safety as an excuse to arrest non-criminal undocumented migrants. While the administration’s initial immigration raids were supposed to target serious criminals, only about half of the people recently apprehended have criminal records, according to the administration. On Tuesday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about the administration’s assurances that only criminals would be prioritized. She replied that anyone in the country illegally has, by definition, committed a crime.
Mayor Wells issued the following statement on X after Tuesday’s vote:
Tonight, I urged my colleagues to support a resolution backing federal deportation efforts for criminals—because those who break our laws and threaten our families must be held accountable.
Unfortunately, the motion failed 3-2, but I want the residents of El Cajon and San Diego County to know this: I will not stop fighting to protect our communities and keep criminals off our streets.
Safety isn’t negotiable.
See also:
Fresno police won’t help Border Patrol or ICE agents with deportation raids, Mayor says
San Francisco reaffirms sanctuary city policy amid Trump threats
Burbank City Council to discuss if Burbank should become a sanctuary city
Pleasanton Police Say They Will Not Enforce Federal Immigration Laws