Santa Monica City Council Adopts Resolution Embracing Diversity and Clarifying the City’s Role in Enforcing Federal Immigration Law
March 1, 2017 10:28 AM
SANTA MONICA, CA – At its meeting on Tuesday, February 28, 2017, Santa Monica City Council unanimously adopted a resolution embracing diversity, rejecting hate and discrimination, clarifying the City’s role in enforcing federal immigration law, and promoting an environment in which fear and intimidation do not chill cooperation with local law enforcement and other first responders.
In addition to the resolution, Santa Monica Mayor Ted Winterer issued an open letter to the public that communicates the City’s long history of embracing diversity and acting with compassion. In the letter, Mayor Winterer outlines the City’s pledge to not use City resources including staff to investigate, apprehend, detain, or register any individual whose only offense is that of being undocumented.
City Council also directed City staff to not aid in the creation of a registry or database that is based on a person's religious affiliation, race, national or ethnic origin, immigration status, gender, or sexual identity or orientation or share any data that may have inadvertently been collected.
The Mayor’s letter, resolution, and links to resources can be accessed on the city’s website smgov.net/diversity. Resources are available in English and Spanish.
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