City Council opposes sanctuary law
IMPERIAL — A majority of the Imperial City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution affirming the city’s opposition to Senate Bill 54, California’s so-called sanctuary state law.
Of particular concern, to some council members, are the law’s provisions that prohibit local law enforcement officials from assisting federal officials with certain immigration-related enforcement activities.
In turn, those restrictions hamper both local law enforcement and federal immigration officials’ capabilities to fully ensure the public’s safety, said Mayor Geoff Dale.
“This goes back to looking out for our constituents,” said Dale, who had initially asked council to consider the resolution.
The approval of the resolution during the council’s regular meeting had been preceded by some spirited debate among a few of the council members, who also expressed respect for one another’s opinions.
The resolution not only stands in opposition to SB 54, called the California Values Act, but is also in agreement with the Trump Administration’s recent lawsuit disputing the law’s constitutionality.
The resolution explicitly opposes SB 54’s provisions that prevent local law enforcement officials from notifying immigration officials of the pending release of incarcerated undocumented immigrants who may be subject to deportation.
It also opposes a provision that prevents local law enforcement officials from sharing information related to an immigrant’s status with federal authorities.
Lastly, the resolution takes a stance against the law’s prohibition against allowing local authorities to transfer deportable immigrants to the custody of federal immigration authorities.
“The City Council opposed SB 54 as conflicting with the plenary authority of the federal government over immigration laws, restricting local law enforcement and endangering public safety,” the resolution stated.
Ultimately, the resolution was approved 4-1, capping discussion that had begun during the council’s June 20 regular meeting.
As before, only Councilman Darrell Pechtl had voiced any opposition and on Wednesday cast the council’s sole dissenting vote. A lengthy statement Pechtl had read aloud prior to the vote cited his spiritual and political beliefs for opposing the resolution.
“What SB 54 does, is what my faith has taught me is the right thing to do,” Pechtl said. “It protects the innocent in our community.”
Prior to the vote, Councilman Robert Amparano also spoke briefly in support of the resolution.
He, too, expressed concern about immigrants in the country illegally being released from incarceration without federal authorities’ notification and, in some instances, subsequently committing more crime.
“It’s happening here in Imperial County,” Amparano said. “To me, that’s a problem.” Currently, SB 54 and other recently enacted statewide sanctuary policies remain the subject of a federal lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice.
That lawsuit’s outcome may have been foreshadowed by the district judge recently denying the government’s request for a preliminary injunction, said Dennis Morita, the city’s attorney.
Yet, the legal battle over SB 54’s constitutionality is likely far from over, he said.
“Whatever the outcome, I suspect there’s going to be an appeal to the Ninth Circuit,” Morita said. “And whatever the outcome is there, I suspect there’s going to be an appeal to the Supreme Court.”