After a lengthy two-and-a-half-hour debate and public comment session, the El Cajon City Council passed a contentious immigration enforcement resolution in a narrow 3-2 vote. This marks the third attempt to approve such a resolution, which has sparked significant debate within the community.
The resolution states that El Cajon will cooperate with federal immigration authorities to remove violent criminals, in line with federal immigration law, as much as state law permits. The vote follows a failed attempt to pass a similar resolution earlier.
Councilmember Steve Goble, who has been a key swing vote in past discussions, voiced his support for the resolution this time, citing an amendment that would provide additional protections for local police officers. The amendment calls on the U.S. Attorney General to offer legal protection to El Cajon police officers if they assist or cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. Goble emphasized that this provision would safeguard police officers, who he said have “our backs” in keeping the city safe.
“I will support the resolution because we found an amendment to make sure we cover the backs of police officers who have our backs,” Goble said, receiving applause from supporters in the room.
Opponents of the resolution, however, raised concerns about the implications of such protections. One critic argued that the resolution would undermine state government oversight and could lead to dangerous consequences by appealing for federal protection through the Trump administration.
“It seeks to bypass state government oversight and potential repercussions by appealing to Trump and his allies for federal protection,” said one woman during the public comment period. “This sets a dangerous precedent.”
The meeting was briefly interrupted multiple times by heated heckling from both sides, but the council ultimately voted to approve the resolution. Mayor Bill Wells defended the decision, stating that it was necessary to ensure public safety.
“This is the step we need to take to keep the city safe,” Wells said. “When we arrest a dangerous person, we want every available option to remove them from the community, including working with ICE.” He also noted that further steps, including addressing the state law SB-54, are needed before full enforcement can take place.
SB-54 is a California law that limits local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities unless the individual has been convicted of specific felony crimes. City leaders are currently awaiting clarification on how state and federal laws will interact in cases like this.
In the midst of the debate, some residents expressed fear that the resolution could lead to racial profiling. U.S. military veteran Carlos Gomez-Perez shared his concerns, suggesting that the resolution could make certain communities, particularly those with darker skin tones, vulnerable to increased scrutiny by law enforcement.
“The fact that they’re only stopping certain individuals or certain skin tones is a prime example that it is a race issue,” Gomez-Perez said.
Despite these concerns, El Cajon’s police chief stated that federal officials have identified around 200 addresses in the city where violent undocumented immigrants may be residing, underscoring the city’s concerns about public safety.
The approval of the resolution marks an ongoing effort by city leaders to navigate the tensions between federal and state immigration laws while addressing concerns from residents on both sides of the issue.
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