Council directs staff to publish immigration resources, develop response guidance for events

The City Council voted July 23 to direct staff to prepare and distribute immigration-related resources and to develop response guidance for local events in the wake of circulating reports about federal immigration enforcement activity. City staff said they had already begun preparing a resource guide that will be published on the city website, printed, and shared via social media. Council members asked whether the city can require federal agents to show identification and whether city staff should have a formal plan for events held on public or school district property. Staff and the city attorney advised that asking for identification and badge numbers is a proper precaution, but denying lawful federal law-enforcement access (for example, when a warrant or other lawful authority exists) is legally complicated; they recommended coordination with the school district and the local sheriff for event-specific protocols. Council members requested the guide be bilingual (English and Spanish) and asked staff to explore mailing the materials to residents. The council also discussed the availability of county services to support affected residents, including field clinicians from the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, mobile vaccination and health screening resources, and emergency food and housing services. Staff said they would coordinate with the school district, sheriff's office and county public-health agencies to produce both the resource guide and an internal plan to brief staff who work community events. The council approved the motion directing staff to prepare and distribute the resources and to return with any recommended procedural guidance for staff and partners. The motion passed on a roll call vote with all present members voting yes.