Briefs

LB Supports ‘Sanctuary State’ Legislation

On Feb. 7, the Long Beach City Council 7-0 voted, Councilwoman Stacy Mungo and Councilman Dee Andrew did not participate,  to support state bills that would essentially make California a “sanctuary state.”

District 1 Councilwoman Lena Gonzalez moved for the proposal to support the bills. Prior to the city council meeting led a rally to the chambers. Long Beach limits immigration holds in jail as a way to foster trust between police and immigrant communities.

Senate Bill 31 would prohibit state or local agencies from providing or disclosing identifiable information of a person’s beliefs, practices or affiliation to the federal government when it is sought for compiling a database on people based on religious belief, practice or affiliation, national origin, or ethnicity for law enforcement or immigration purposes.

SB 54, the California Values Act, would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies and school police and security departments from using resources to investigate, interrogate, detain, detect or arrest person for immigration purposes.

The state Senate and Assembly must approve the bills by at least two-thirds approval before they could be sent out to Gov. Jerry Brown for consideration.

Donald Trump has threatened to penalize “sanctuary cities” by stripping them of federal funding if they refuse to comply with his deportation boosting plans.

One of his executive orders, which was neutralized for a second time by a three judge panel, was to institute a travel ban on seven Muslim-majority countries, excluding the Christian minorities.

Going against Trump carries a risk of more than $200 million in federal funding. However, taking a stance for the city is important officials said.

“As the vice chair of the State Legislative Committee, I believe it is imperative that Long Beach shows the rest of the state and the nation that we stand with our immigrant community and that we stand for religious freedom,” Gonzalez said in a released statement.

About 10 percent of the nation’s 11.1 million undocumented immigrants live in Orange or Los Angeles counties, a recent Pew Research Center analysis reported. According to the U.S. Census more than a 25 percent of the population in Long Beach is foreign-born, about 40 percent of them are Latino. The city also has the largest population of Cambodians outside of Cambodia.

Zamná Ávila

Zamná Ávila is the intern supervisor and former assistant editor at Random Lengths News. He is fluent in English and Spanish and is broad in his awareness of different cultures.

Recent Posts

County to Protect Medi-Cal and CalFresh Access for 1.7 Million Residents Amid New Federal Work Requirements

The motion also calls for the expansion of workfare and volunteer opportunities across county departments…

2 hours ago

Governors Briefs: CalRx® Insulin, $11 a Pen, Will Soon be Available and Appointment Announced

This launch marks a significant step in the state's ongoing effort to lower prescription drug…

3 hours ago

Purdue Student Paper Shows Solidarity With Rival

  After the Indiana University Media School fired its director of student media and banned…

3 hours ago

POLA Lead Attorney Steve Otera Named Corporate Counsel of the Year by LA Business Journal

  LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Business Journal has given a top legal honor…

4 hours ago

Ports Briefs: POLB Cargo Slows as Clean Truck Study and Air Quality Report Highlight Progress

The Final 2024 Class 8 Drayage Truck Feasibility Assessment Report focuses on battery electric and…

7 hours ago

Public Health Investigating Possible Local Spread of Clade I Mpox; Third Case Confirmed in Los Angeles County

So far in 2025, Public Health has reported 118 cases of clade II mpox.

1 day ago