In the wake of President-elect Donald Trump saying he would use the military to carry out mass deportations, officials in Los Angeles will meet to vote on an ordinance to formally make the City of Angels a “sanctuary city.” 

According to Global Refuge, a nonprofit serving refugees in the U.S. from across the world, generally speaking, a “sanctuary city” is a community with a policy – written or unwritten – that discourages local law enforcement from reporting the immigration status of individuals unless it involves investigation of a serious crime. 

The American Immigration Council states that “there is no one clear definition” of what it means for a state or local government to adopt sanctuary policies, as they take many forms (such as prohibiting local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law, preventing the construction of immigration detention centers and restricting certain information on immigrants from the federal government, among others.) 

California AB 4, passed in 2013, designated the Golden State as a sanctuary state; according to the Center for Immigration Studies, local law enforcement agencies need only honor ICE detainers for immigrants who meet a list of criteria, most of which pertaining to violent crimes.

A detainer, CIS says, is the primary tool that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials use to gain custody of criminal aliens for deportation. 

That said, even if an individual fits one of the criteria, local California police agencies still have discretion as to whether to honor the detainer. 

Locally, the Los Angeles City Council is looking to put an end to the debate with a proposed ordinance that would amend the city’s administrative code. 

A draft of the ordinance released by the office of Mayor Karen Bass and L.A. City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto last week written with the help of immigrant rights groups indicated it would formally prohibit the use of city resources – including city property and personnel – from being utilized for immigration enforcement. 

Not only that, but the ordinance would officially prohibit local authorities from cooperating with federal immigration agents engaged in immigration enforcement. 

As a jurisdiction, Los Angeles in essence has been following “sanctuary city” guidelines for years; however, the ordinance would officially codify it into city law. 

According to Los Angeles Police Department Chief Jim McDonnell, shifting the department’s view on federal immigration enforcement was never on the table. 

“The LAPD will not be participating in any roundups of anybody with ICE or any other agency,” he said. 

KTLA spoke with several undocumented individuals to get their views on the proposal – and the overall status of undocumented immigrants in America. 

“No, [I am not scared] because they’ve always deported people,” an undocumented man named Jose told KTLA in Spanish. “Whichever president it is…they have always done it.” 

As for the viewpoint of the forthcoming Trump administration, his appointed “Border Czar” Tom Homan told Fox News that it doesn’t matter what a jurisdiction’s “sanctuary” status is; they will be strictly enforcing the law. 

“I saw…numerous governors from ‘sanctuary states’ who said they are going to step in the way,” Homan said. “You better get the hell out of the way. Either you help us, or you get out of the way because ICE is going to do their job.” 

L.A. city officials are scheduled to vote on the proposed ordinance around 10 a.m. Tuesday. While it normally takes multiple city council meetings to pass an ordinance like this one, officials are waiving the consideration process so it could be voted on quicker.

Members of the City Council believe the ordinance should pass with an overwhelming majority.