Huntington Beach Is A 'Non-Sanctuary City,' Council Votes

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA — Huntington Beach this week declared itself a “non-sanctuary city,” according to an announcement from the municipality.

“This will be another effective tool to combat crime and it will be a signal to would-be criminals, do not come to Huntington Beach,” Mayor Pat Burns said in the announcement.

The city council unanimously voted Tuesday night to approve the resolution brought by Burns, which went into effect immediately and declared Huntington Beach a “Non-Sanctuary City for Illegal Immigration for the Prevention of Crime,” the announcement said.

“Neither the Governor nor the State Legislature with the passage of laws may interfere with the City’s voluntary cooperation with federal authorities, nor cause or compel the City to violate federal laws such as Title 8 Section 1324 for the harboring of illegal immigrants,” according to the announcement.

Under sanctuary policies, state and local authorities limit cooperation with federal immigration officials but do not prevent them from carrying out enforcement duties, according to the American Immigration Council.

Huntington Beach’s announcement comes as President Donald Trump has made sweeping immigration moves during his first days in office. The president sought to redefine birthright citizenship, designated an “invasion across the southern border,” allowed military service members to act as immigration and border officers, and directed the attorney general to deny federal funds to “so-called ‘sanctuary’” cities.

Trump also suspended the U.S. Refugee Admission Program pending a 90-day review, forbade so-called “catch-and-release” that allowed migrants to stay in the U.S. while awaiting immigration court proceedings, and ended so-called “parole programs” that let family of certain citizens and permanent residents come to the U.S. while visa applications were pending.

California was one of 22 states to challenge the president’s executive order ending birthright citizenship.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.