The Los Angeles City Council is considering a set of proposals intended to safeguard immigrants from President Trump’s immigration enforcement.

Councilmember Hugo Soto-Martínez and other members have introduced five proposals to strengthen the city’s protections against federal immigration enforcement.

One proposal would mandate that businesses report any federal workplace immigration actions, such as raids and audits, to the city. Another emphasizes launching a “know your rights” campaign to educate residents about existing immigration protections.

Additionally, there’s a plan to allocate space at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for nonprofit legal service providers to prepare for potential bans on visitors from predominantly Muslim countries, similar to the one implemented by Trump in 2017. The council is also directing city officials to identify $540,000 to fund immigration legal service providers for three months, compensating for federal support frozen by the Trump administration.

Furthermore, they are advocating for state legislation to increase funding for legal representation and advocacy for immigrants facing deportation.

Some residents are questioning the council’s priorities. Los Angeles is facing significant challenges, including rampant homelessness, rising crime rates, traffic congestion, urban blight, and the critical issue of rebuilding after the devastating wildfires. Critics argue that the council’s emphasis on immigration issues may divert attention and resources from these urgent local problems.

Supporters of the proposals argue that protecting immigrant rights is essential to the city’s identity and social fabric. They maintain that proactive measures are necessary to defend residents against federal policies viewed as unjust.