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REPORT REGARDING CURRENT CITY POLICIES ON IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, THE STATE OF THE LAW SURROUNDING SANCTUARY CITIES, CITY COUNCIL OPTIONS IN THESE AREAS AND RELATED MATTERS
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Review staff's report, take public testimony, and provide direction to staff on what, if any, additional action is desired.
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SUMMARY
In recent months federal authorities have proposed, and taken, various actions to more strictly and actively enforce federal immigration laws. In response, out of an expressed concern for how such actions would adversely affect their local populations, some states and cities have taken actions to oppose and/or blunt these efforts. Such state and local actions have taken various forms, ranging from symbolic declarations of "sanctuary" to actual policy changes limiting or prohibiting cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In a counter-response, a number of federal officials have proposed measures that would disqualify "sanctuary" jurisdictions from receiving various types of federal funding.
Here locally, community activists and residents, including City Councilmembers, have also expressed concerns regarding stepped up federal immigration enforcement. Questions have been posed about the impacts of pending legislation, the City's own policies on enforcement, what it means to be a "sanctuary city," or a "welcoming city," and what authority and options the City may have in the area of immigration enforcement.
Following public testimony at the January 10th City Council Meeting, the Mayor and Council referred this matter to staff for an analysis and a report. This item presents that report. The full report is presented in the "DISCUSSION" section, below. An executive summary of current City policies on immigration status and enforcement is presented here for your convenience:
Current City Policies Regarding Immigration Status and Enforcement
As a matter of policy and/or practice, City staf...
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