Calif. county votes to join Trump’s ‘sanctuary’ lawsuit
SANTA ANA, Calif. — Leaders of Orange County, California, voted Tuesday to join a Trump administration lawsuit against the state over its law aimed at protecting immigrants from stepped-up deportations.
The all-Republican Board of Supervisors in the county of 3.2 million people made the decision in a closed 3-0 vote. It took place ahead of a raucous public debate about another proposal tar- geting the California law — whether to support an effort by the small city of Los Alamitos in Orange County to opt out of the policy.
Residents and activists on both sides lined up to speak. Some held American flags and signs reading “Support Our Constitution” as they thanked the supervisors for taking a stand against illegal immigration. Others decried what they called a racist, anti-immigrant position aimed at gaining votes, not public safety.
A short time later, supervisors voted on a separate resolution condemning the sanctuary law. About a dozen people carrying American flags who supported the idea cheered after the second vote.
The California law bars police in many cases from turning over suspects to federal immigration agents for deportation.
“This legislation prevents law enforcement from removing criminals from our community and is a threat to public safety,” Supervisor Shawn Nelson said before the vote.
Outside, several dozen immigrant advocates played music and held signs with slogans such as “Set Our People Free” and “Melt ICE” to urge supervisors not to join the U.S. lawsuit.
Orange County, which is home to Disneyland and wealthy beach communities, has a five-member Board of Supervisors, and all are Republican.