Immigration has been a major issue concerning President Donald Trump’s administration. Since Trump took office, the number of immigrants detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents has increased, and there have been reports that federal agents have arrested people in courthouses.
Los Angeles has long held that it will be a sanctuary city for immigrants. LA Mayor Eric Garcetti emphasized this stance recently by calling for further protections for immigrants in the city.
Deportation Reports Impacting LA
At an event at the Lincoln Heights Youth Center Complex in East Los Angeles, Mayor Garcetti addressed alarming trends in the city. Garcetti noted that Los Angeles has seen fewer visitors at its city parks, libraries, art centers and senior centers recently. He believes the reason for this may be that families are staying home to avoid potential contact with law enforcement for fear of being deported.
There has also been a drop in the amount of reports of sexual assaults and domestic violence among the city’s Latino population, according to LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. While these facts cannot directly be attributed to the actions of the Trump Administration, the decline has not been seen in other demographics.
City of LA Supporting Immigrants
To address the deportation fears that many have, Garcetti signed an executive order called “Standing with Immigrants: A City of Safety, Refuge, and Opportunity for All.” This order prevents port and airport officials from being deputized as federal immigration agents.
The order builds on current LAPD immigration enforcement policies where law enforcement officers cannot check the immigration status of individuals in custody. Current policies also state that individuals cannot be detained longer than warranted per the request of federal deportation agents without a court order.
The order extends these policies to Los Angeles’ ports, airports and fire departments. City employees are also prohibited from using public resources and facilities to aid federal immigration agents. The order stipulates that every public facility and service will be available to any citizen, regardless of their citizenship or immigration status. The confidentiality of anyone submitting information to enroll in city programs and services will be protected unless required by law.
Garcetti hopes this order will protect and inform Los Angeles immigrants. Rather than fearing deportation, Garcetti wants immigrants to feel safe and unafraid to go about their business.
Contact the Criminal Defense Attorneys at Wallin & Klarich Today
If you have questions about how your criminal record could impact your immigration status, you should contact a skilled criminal defense attorney today. At Wallin & Klarich, our criminal defense lawyers have been successfully helping clients in post-conviction matters for more than 35 years. We’ve helped thousands of clients in their time of legal need, and we can help you now.
With offices in Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino, Victorville, Los Angeles, West Covina, Torrance and San Diego, you can find an experienced Wallin & Klarich attorney available to help you no matter where you work or live.
Call us now at (888) 280-6839 for a free phone consultation. We will get through this together.