Donald Trump’s administration filed a federal lawsuit on June 30, arguing that Los Angeles (LA)’s sanctuary city ordinance is unconstitutional. LA Mayor Karen Bass held a press conference on July 1, calling the lawsuit “a full-scale attack on LA” and promising a strong response.
The federal government claimed in the filing that LA systematically obstructs federal immigration enforcement, leading to an increase in undocumented immigrants and worsening public safety. This lawsuit follows similar actions against other cities with “immigrant protection” policies, including New York, New Jersey, and Colorado.
At the press conference, Bass stated, “LA is a city of immigrants, and we have maintained institutional traditions to protect immigrants from crime for decades. We will not yield to legal pressure from the federal government.”
Heidi Feldstein Soto, LA City Attorney, added, “We will pursue all legal means to defend our city’s constitutional rights.”
Under current policy, LA city employees and police officers are prohibited from using city resources or providing support for federal immigration enforcement operations.
BY BRIAN CHOI [choi.inseong@koreadaily.com]
