LA suburb doubles down on sanctuary city policies as neighboring city burns

Long Beach joins an ever-growing list of Democrat-controlled cities and states vowing to resist the Trump administration's plans to crack down on illegal immigration. Among other provisions, the measure allocates an additional $200,000 in city funding to give immigrants facing deportation free legal representation.

"It's going to be a challenge - these next few years - but I'm confident, if we continue to work together, continue to support one another, we're going to get through this," said Richardson. "No matter who is in power in Washington, I believe that we have a responsibility to stand firm on our principles, so all of our residents feel safe and seen and protected regardless of how they pray, or who they love or where they were born."

The $200,000 in extra funding adds to an already-existing $1.1 million available to immigrants for legal representation against removal through the "Long Beach Justice Fund."

The measure also prohibits third-party city contractors from sharing city data with federal immigration enforcement and requests that other city authorities - including police oversight, the city attorney, city prosecutor and city auditor - formally commit to complying with the Long Beach Values Act.

While Richardson projected confidence in resisting Trump's agenda, the Long Beach Post reported that a Dec. 31 memo by Deputy City Manager Meredith Reynolds to city officials warned that Long Beach stands to lose millions in federal funding if they do not cooperate with immigration authorities.

"Don't cross that line because it is a felony to harbor and conceal an illegal alien from ICE," said Homan.