L.A. City Council seeks to expand protections for immigrants

“Los Angeles is a city of and for immigrants” was the driving message of a new legislative package introduced on Tuesday at the Los Angeles City Council meeting to protect and empower the immigrant and undocumented community of L.A. 

On the steps of L.A. City Hall, where during the weekend, thousands of people gathered in protest against President Donald Trump's immigration policies and the recent ICE raids, councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez (CD-13) announced the legislative package that hopes to address the threats of mass deportation, worksite raids and targeted enforcement actions that have loomed over the immigrant communities.

A city-wide “Know Your Rights” campaign, worksite enforcement notification of ICE, immigration support in Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and an appeal for more state funding for deportation defense funds and immigration legal services are just some of the items that are part of the legislative package that could soon be voted on and approved at the city level. 

The legislative package, according to Soto-Martínez, the motion's principal author, is a direct response to "Trump's dehumanizing agenda," which was evident in executive orders he signed on his first day in office. Some of these executive orders, many of which have already faced legal hurdles, included ending birthright citizenship, sending the military to the border by declaring a national emergency, restricting federal funds from sanctuary cities, denying public benefits to unauthorized immigrants and reinstating the “Remain in Mexico” policy, among others. 

“We've been working on this since Trump won,” Soto-Martínez told CALÒ News. “We knew that we had a little bit of time to prepare, so we had amazing support from legal attorneys… and after a couple of months of hard work and doing our due diligence, we're finally able [to move forward on the legislative motions] today.”

Despite L.A. being declared an official sanctuary city last November, meaning that no city staff or resources could be used to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, such as ICE or USCIS, without a judicial warrant, this legislation package pushes for additional measures. 

“ We must do more if we are serious about being a sanctuary city,” Councilwoman Eunisses Hernandez (CD-1) said on Tuesday in support of the motion. “ You all demanded that our city take a stand against hate, against fear, against deportation and we did because we understand how crucial of a part immigrants play in the City of Los Angeles.”

One portion of the legislative package is for the city to launch a “Know Your Rights” campaign to educate and inform immigrants of their rights when it comes to immigration, non-discrimination protections and L.A.'s sanctuary policies. 

Immigrant rights advocates and organizations like the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA) and  Central American Resource Center (CARECEN) have already begun their public education efforts to prepare the L.A. communities if they encounter entities like ICE. 

Martha Arevalo, executive director of CARECEN, reminded people that under the U.S. Constitution and regardless of their immigration status, they have rights if they are stopped by the Border Patrol, ICE agents or the police. Some of these rights include having the right to speak to a lawyer, not opening the door to your home unless they have a valid search warrant signed by a judge, not consenting to searches and not signing anything without speaking to a lawyer. 

 ”We welcome today's city's motions that aim to look at ways to strengthen the safety net to protect vulnerable Angelenos. This is the beginning of a lot of work ahead to be the moment to leave no stone unturned in protecting our communities,” Arevalo said. “Los Angeles will continue to be a national model and will continue to send a message that in order for a city to be strong and to prosper, we have to recognize the contributions of immigrants.”

Soto-Martinez said this “Know Your Rights” education must happen citywide so that  immigrants and employers both understand their rights and don't fall victim to ICE intimidation. It could also help identify city facilities, such as recreational centers, street furniture displays or other city-owned facilities that can be best utilized to display information on immigration-related rights. 

The legislation also asks for the city to explore policies that would force businesses to report ICE enforcement actions that could help ensure workers receive timely legal support and know their rights when facing workplace raids or audits. Soto-Martinez also said this could help better track any ICE raids that could take place throughout the city. 

As L.A. continues to lead as the capital of wage theft in the nation, strengthening worker protections, especially among immigrant workers, is crucial. 

As stated in a study by the Migrant Justice Institute, most migrant workers are unlikely to file a wage theft claim because they fear being deported, losing their jobs or other forms of retaliation. 

“ Immigrants are not just part of the city; they are the city. In all industries—blue-collar, white-collar, creative, culinary, social, academic and gaming—there's immigrants involved,” Councilmember Imelda Padilla (CD-6) said. “The United States is the nation of immigrants and any attack on the immigrant community is an attack on the very foundation of who we are and the history that produced this country to be as strong as it is. Immigrants are not just a workforce; they are our family members, our neighbors, the heartbeat of our local economy. Their contributions strengthen our communities, and they deserve to feel safe and protected in the city that they help build and call home every day. “

If approved, the legislative package will also direct LAX to create designated spaces for non-profit legal services providers to assist and offer resources to travelers who might be impacted by potential federal immigration or travel bans, like that in 2018 when Trump's travel ban barred nearly all travelers from five mainly Muslim countries as well as North Korea and Venezuela.

In addition, the motion also calls for the city to move into officially supporting and sponsoring any state legislation that would increase funding for deportation defense in California, the state with more immigrants than any other state in the U.S.

The proposal also directs city officials to identify $540,000 to provide three months of funding for immigration legal service providers whose federal support has been frozen by the Trump administration. These legal service providers and immigrant rights organizations, like CHIRLA CARECEN, ACLU SoCal, and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, among others, would help immigrants receive pro bono immigration assistance, increase legal representation and expand resources to the immigrant community living in isolated or rural areas. 

Padilla, who seconded the motion, also talked about the role community organizations take on when it comes to legislation packages like this. 

She said the relationship between these organizations and city leaders is crucial to making sure the people-centered policies are moving forward with intentionality. “Some of our better policies here in the City of Los Angeles come out of partnerships with organizations that are in the trenches,” she said. “A lot of this was done by the council members but [also] with partnerships with organizations that are on the ground hearing [directly] from people about what sort of things would be helpful.” 

One of the newest members of the city council, Ysabel Jurado (CD-14), was an additional  council member who seconded the legislative package. She mentioned that as many members of the L.A. City Council, including herself, are children of immigrants, backing up and supporting this legislation was a “no-brainer.” 

“As a daughter of undocumented immigrants and as a queer woman of color, this is so important; standing in solidarity with our workers and the intersectionalities of all these identities,” she told CALÒ News. “Having a comprehensive strategy to make sure people's needs are met during this time is crucial.”

Before the  legislation package is adopted, Soto-Martinez said it would have to be reviewed by various L.A. City Council committees before it comes back to the full council for a full vote. “If it passes, then we'll be one step closer to having those laws in the books,” he said.