City Considering Proposal Not to Assist Feds in Immigration Enforcement

We have posted much about cities passing immigration enforcement-related ordinances and assisting the federal government in immigration enforcement.  But the Santa Cruz Sentinal (here) reports the Santa Cruz City Council is considering a proposal that would prohibit using city funds or resources to assist immigration enforcement by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcment. The proposal’s advocates want to be prepared if the federal government asks for the city’s assistance. The policy, written by Councilman Tony Madrigal, was created in response to the countywide raids that took place in September, an operation dubbed “Return to Sender” The effort resulted in the arrests of 107 undocumented residents from Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Hollister. “This resolution sends a message that Santa Cruz values its immigration community,” Madrigal said. “We don’t want immigration officials to come into our community to tear apart families like they did in fall 2006” The policy comes on the heels of an uptick in crackdowns statewide since December. More than 300 illegal immigrants were arrested last week in San Diego and Imperial counties.

KJ