City Council
MEETING DATE: 5/24/2017
TITLE:
Title
Sanctuary City Declaration
End
FROM:
Charlie McClendon, City Manager
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council approve a resolution declaring sanctuary city status for Cathedral City.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The proper role for local governments, and particularly for local law enforcement agencies, in enforcement of national immigration policy has been a controversial topic for some time. Recently, with a potential change in direction from the federal level, some local jurisdictions are evaluating their positions on the topic. On December 14, 2016, this topic was brought before the City Council for discussion at the request of Councilmember Kaplan. Staff provided the Cathedral City Police Department adopted policy, which establishes the approach the department takes related to immigration enforcement, as well as information on the various positions cities have taken. Council directed staff to work on a statement regarding the City's policy on immigration and being a safe inclusive community. The City Council of Cathedral City's Affirmation Statement on Community Inclusiveness was issued in early January and was published in the Community Newsletter and shared on all the City's social media outlets. The statement is attached.
DISCUSSION:
Throughout the year people from the community have appeared at City Hall at Your Corner meetings to advocate for the City making a formal sanctuary city declaration. Among the reasons most frequently cited was the fear among some residents to report being a victim of crime or to report being a witness of crime and assist detectives in solving the crime. Other reported residents live in fear of their families being separated from one another while others reported a hesitancy to take advantage of services offered in the community.
On January 25, 2017, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 13768, "Enhancing Public Safety in the...
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