The list of cities considering sticking it to the state and cooperating with the feds on immigration enforcement matters is getting longer by the day. Less than two weeks after the small Orange County city of Los Alamitos voted to exempt itself from SB 54, a parade of local leaders from jurisdictions across California said they would sponsor similar resolutions — or at least consider doing so.
Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoor would like to see his city become the next to opt out of California’s sanctuary state legislation.
"I'm open to bringing another resolution forward, but it would be just that — a resolution," he said, referencing a 2010 item he brought forth that ultimately declared Costa Mesa a “rule of law city.”
"Another option is clearly asking ICE to come over and for us to start cooperating with them, which, frankly, we should be doing," Mansoor added.
Fountain Valley City Councilman Larry Crandall says he’s been thinking about the issue for some time and has now asked city staff to look into SB 54’s impacts on future federal funding for the city.
Huntington Beach Mayor Mike Posey was similarly measured in his response. While he did not call for a measure like Los Alamitos’ outright, he criticized SB 54 as an example of "unconstitutional overreach" that usurps local control.
The High Desert city of Hesperia also began discussions on SB 54 last week.
During a closed session Tuesday, the Hesperia City Council voted 3-1 on the legislation-based item, that includes the city “joining” an amicus brief that is being filed in the case that involves the Department of Justice suing the state of California over recent immigration laws, city attorney Eric Dunn said.
Councilwoman Rebekah Swanson voted no and Councilman Larry Bird abstained in the closed session action regarding the amicus brief, a legal document filed in appellate court cases by non-litigants with a strong interest in the subject matter.
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