The Californian coastal enclave near Sanctuary City tries to make itself ‘newsm-proof’

The mayor of an affluent coastal community in California criticized Democratic state legislators And expressed dismay at state refugee policies that he alleges have allowed illegal immigration to flow unabated after 21 migrants were recently detained off beaches near his city.

Eighteen of the migrants detained by the U.S. Coast Guard a mile offshore in Newport Beach earlier this month were from Mexico, while two were from Uzbekistan and one from Russia. They were turned over to US Customs and Border Protection.

Newport Beach Mayor Will O’Neill blamed California’s Democratic-controlled Legislature for passing state sanctuary laws that are intended to protect illegal immigrants from deportation while potentially, unintentionally undermining financial and public safety. The implications of is to be ignored.

“The policy in (the state capital) Sacramento is so extreme, that they’re actually protecting people who are criminals who are in the country illegally,” O’Neill told Fox News Digital.

Immigrant murders threaten American communities as more than 1.4 million avoid deportation through dubious tactics

Also known as “California Values ​​Act,” SB 54 is sometimes referred to as the “sanctuary state” law, which prohibits state law enforcement agencies from cooperating with federal immigration authorities.

The law was signed in 2017 by then-Gov. Jerry Brown. It mandates that no state or local resources be used to support federal immigration enforcement. It also restricts immigration enforcement actions in public schools, hospitals, churches, health facilities, courthouses and libraries.

Newport Beach lawmakers opposed the bill when it was passed.

O’Neill noted that some immigrants in recent years have completely bypassed the southern border in California in favor of using boats to enter the country illegally. Once ashore, many would flee into waiting vehicles and disappear into the state, he said.

In May, Fox Los Angeles reported 20 suspects. Illegal immigrants Walking on a pier in Newport Harbor before dispersing into town. O’Neill noted that if the boat with the 21 migrants had entered the harbor and been stopped by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department patrolling the area, local law enforcement would have been powerless to do anything. .

‘100% On Board’: Border State Offers Trump Massive Land to Help With Massive Deportation Operation

The border was a major issue during the 2024 presidential election, with President-elect Donald Trump often criticizing the Biden administration and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Democratic Gov. of California Gavin Newsom Has vowed to fight the incoming Trump administration to protect progressive policies on climate change, reproductive rights and immigration. Trump has vowed to carry out massive deportations once he returns to the White House, initially focusing on those in the country illegally who are considered a threat to the public.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Newsom’s office said that most immigrants prefer to settle in Texas and Florida over other states, proving that “anti-immigrant state-level policies deter immigration.” are not.”

“They only hurt our economy and long-term immigrant families, including American citizens who have contributed to our communities for decades,” the governor’s office said. “We had a bipartisan border security bill deal that would have bolstered border security resources, but Republicans killed it under Trump’s order. The mayor’s complaints should be directed his way.”

The failed border bill, which was opposed by Republicans and Trump, would have expanded detention alternatives for those entering the country illegally, provided work permits for those who passed initial asylum screening and an average cap of 5,000. would establish Border crossing Fox News Digital first reported that a day before the Department of Homeland Security signed into law an emergency authority that would bar illegal immigrants from entering the country between ports of entry.

Many in the GOP said the measure would have exacerbated the border crisis and that it was essentially dead on arrival.

Despite its intent, SB 54 contains an exemption that allows local Law enforcement Liaising with ICE to detain illegal immigrants after they are released from prison, including those who have served time in state prisons, convicted of serious crimes.

Immigrants caught at border put on buses, taken out of San Diego in possible ‘cover-up’ before election: official

Newsom has vetoed bills that sought to end the exemption, his office said.

“Especially California,” O’Neill said Orange Countyhas seen rising crime and homelessness in addition to declining quality of life under Newsom.

“Gavin Newsom is trying for a Trump-proof California. We’re trying for a Newsom-proof Orange County here in Orange County,” he said. “We know how vulnerable our communities have been under his leadership.”

The mayor noted that Newsom’s family recently acquired a multimillion-dollar home in the Bay Area’s affluent Marin County. Newsom’s office previously told Fox Business that the family will split their time between Sacramento and Marin counties.

“They have altitude sickness,” O’Neill said of Democratic state lawmakers. “They’re in their ivory towers in Sacramento.”

He noted that as mayor of San Francisco, Newsom appointed then-Police Chief George Gaskin as district attorney. Gascon was voted out earlier this month after just one term as Los Angeles County’s top prosecutor amid sharp criticism of his progressive policies that critics say have made the region unsafe. Made and Enabled criminals.

Newsom vetoed a controversial bill that would have provided housing loans to illegal immigrants

State Assemblyman Bill Essely, a Republican, said state Democrats talk about resisting Trump and Republicans but rarely respect differing opinions.

“They don’t tolerate any dissent from any of their policies,” Essely told Fox News Digital, citing the state’s voter ID requirements and state housing against Huntington Beach, an enclave in Orange County. Referring to the case regarding refusal to follow the regulations, he said.

“It’s patently hypocritical that Newsom wants to say: ‘As a state, we want to exempt ourselves from Trump’s policies,’ but Newsom has never heard of local jurisdictions exempting themselves from his policies.” Will not tolerate that either.”

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Democratic Party of California and immigrant groups. The Democratic Party of Orange County declined to comment.

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In an effort to push back against federal immigration raids and draconian policies, Los Angeles city leaders earlier this month Officially voted To become a holy city. The city has followed sanctuary city guidelines for years, but no ordinance has ever been turned into law.

Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez said during the meeting that the law ensures that all Los Angeles residents can “engage with our government without fear that Donald Trump’s deportation squad is at hand.” ”