Members of the Santa Ana Council are considering adopting a new resolution that would declare Santa Ana to be a sanctuary for all residents, including undocumented immigrants. This is in a bid to reassure residents that the everyday operation of the city, which has a high immigrant population, will not alter regardless of the policies of President-Elect, Donald Trump.
David Cavazos, the City Manager, was responsible for preparing the proposed resolution. It was requested by most members of the Council a week after the US election, on 8 November. Cavazos says that they are the first city in Orange Council to prepare this kind of resolution. While it would be unique for Orange County, the Santa Ana resolution would not add practices or policies to its laws to offer residents extra protection.
Cavazos says that the purpose of the resolution is to show that Santa Ana intends to treat people with dignity and respect, and reiterates that the status quo regarding the treatment of immigrants in the city will remain the same. He added that if any policies result from the resolution, these will come later.
If passed, the resolution would require that the city bans the use of city resources for immigration enforcement, that it protects sensitive information, offers training for all agents, employees and officials affected, and reaffirms its commitment to the prevention of policing based on bias.