Lompoc council directs staff to draft resolution backing protections for undocumented residents

The Lompoc City Council on April 1 directed staff to draft a resolution expressing the council’s support for protecting the rights and privileges of undocumented residents in Lompoc and for the city to pursue limited, factual outreach consistent with existing law. The council did not adopt a final resolution tonight; it instructed the city attorney and staff to prepare language and return it for consideration at the next regular council meeting.

Council members and the police chief framed the action as a formal statement of support for how the Lompoc Police Department already operates under California law. The council’s instruction asked the draft to reference the state statute commonly known as SB 54 — the law that restricts local law enforcement from assisting in most federal immigration enforcement actions — and to avoid taking steps that would legally or financially jeopardize city operations or public‑safety funding.

Why it matters: Dozens of residents, many identifying with the group Voces Sin Fronteras and allied organizations, urged the council to adopt measures they said would reduce fear in immigrant communities and make clear that local government and police will not use city resources for immigration enforcement. Council members…