California City Of El Cajon Debates Support For Mass Deportations

El Cajon, a small city in San Diego County with a population of just over 100,000, is considering joining a select group of California cities backing mass deportations promised by the incoming Trump administration.

The El Cajon City Council discussed a proposal on Tuesday to support the mass deportation plans announced by the incoming administration, Border Report reported.

In contrast, California and many of its local governments, including Los Angeles and San Diego County, have taken a stand against deportations, passing resolutions to refuse cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

Speakers raised concerns that this proposal could ostracize migrants and make them "targets of hate." Due to this, the El Cajon City Council decided to temporarily withdraw support for the resolution in its current form. Advocates for migrants, including Pedro Rios, argued that endorsing such a motion would isolate migrants and label them as "outcasts."

"The way the language was presented in the resolution, it suggests that people should be scared of immigrants because they are criminals. It would target them by other members of the community who believe immigrants are causing harm and need to be sanctioned by the city of El Cajon," Rios said.

The current resolution from the City of El Cajon expresses an intent to collaborate with federal immigration authorities, claiming that this cooperation would protect residents from individuals involved in serious crimes such as gang activity, human trafficking, and drug distribution.

The resolution also cited a report from Immigration and Customs Enforcement saying that the agency has released thousands of undocumented individuals into the U.S. who have faced charges or convictions for violent crimes, including assault, sexual assault, homicide, and human trafficking.

At the council meeting, migrant advocates like Rios and about a dozen others voiced their opposition. One speaker expressed concern that police might target him because of his dark skin.

El Cajon Mayor Bill Wells clarified that the motion had been misunderstood, stating it was not intended to transform the city's police force into immigration enforcement agents. Instead, the aim was to ensure compliance with federal law and cooperate with federal authorities.

Wells stressed that the intention was not for the police to actively detain individuals, but to adhere to legal requirements.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta previously stated that local governments in California are not required to participate in mass deportations. This is due to State Senate Bill 54, enacted in 2018, which restricts local law enforcement from assisting in civil immigration enforcement.

However, Wells said that federal law, under the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution, should take precedence over state law. Three of the four city council members — Gary Kendrick, Michelle Metschel, and Steve Goble — expressed concerns regarding the wording of the motion, emphasizing the necessity to protect everyone's rights and acknowledge the contributions of the immigrant community.

Ultimately, the motion was set aside, with all agreeing it needed to be rewritten. A revised version will be discussed and voted on at a future city council meeting.