EL CAJON, Calif. (Border Report) — The small city of El Cajon in east San Diego County is considering going on the record supporting President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, including mass deportations.
The El Cajon City Council last month tabled the idea and ordered the motion be rewritten. Two weeks later, councilmembers rejected the revised version by a 3 to 2 vote.
But the city’s mayor, Bill Wells, is not giving up on the idea and has placed a similar ordinance back on the council’s Tuesday night docket.
It’s written to officially say that “El Cajon is not a sanctuary city.”
It also declares that the “city will seek indemnification (legal protection and restitution) from the U.S. Attorney General for any action taken by the State of California against El Cajon officers or the city when cooperating with federal immigration authorities.”
Before the council meeting began, about a dozen community activists and residents held a demonstration outside City Hall.
“We know Bill Wells is showboating for Donald Trump,” said Yousef Miller, a community member. “Bill Wells is a source of fear and trauma for the people of El Cajon. Compassion is the way, not fear and not terror on behalf of Trump.”
Last month, Wells told Border Report this is about public safety and adhering to the law.
“This is about cooperating with the federal government and following the law, the intention is not to take our police force and start rounding people up,” Wells said. “The way we look at it, is the supremacy clause of the U.S. Constitution says federal law supersedes state law.”
But El Cajon residents like Marrene Branhan see the motion much differently.
“Let’s be clear and let’s be honest, this isn’t about the law, this is about protecting yourself so you can do whatever the hell you want,” she said.
More than 100 speakers, for and against the motion, signed up to speak during the public testimony period before the vote.
As of publication, El Cajon’s City Council had made a decision on the measure.
Read: Read More