Escondido on Wednesday became the first city in San Diego County to join the Trump Administration’s challenge to California’s sanctuary law.
The Escondido City Council voted 4-1 to join the lawsuit, which targets California’s Senate Bill 54. Council member Olga Diaz cast the lone vote in opposition.
The state law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities. Its intent is to remove the fear of deportation to encourage residents of immigrant communities to report crimes and work with local police.
Escondido’s Mayor Sam Abed said he believed the new law puts Escondido’s citizens at risk, but also criticized Gov. Jerry Brown and California’s Democratic-led state legislature as “politically, ethically and morally corrupt.”
“I am proud immigrant who came to U.S. and I believe in the rule of law. My number one goal is to make Escondido a safe city,” Abed told 10News.
The North County city of 150,000 has a history of anti-immigrant politics. In 2006 the city council banned the renting apartments to undocumented immigrants, though the ordinance was never enforced due to pending legal challenges.
Local opposition to the state’s sanctuary law began in traditionally conservative Orange County. The Mission Viejo City Council voted to file an amicus brief last month, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors later voted to join the administration’s lawsuit.
The Huntington Beach council on Monday voted to become a part of the courtroom fight against the laws and the council in Los Alamitos recently voted to “exempt” itself from the policies.
The San Diego Board of Supervisors plans to discuss the case on April 17. Supervisor Dianne Jacob said she expects the board to vote at least 3-2 to join the lawsuit.
