Board of Supervisors Passes Countywide Plan to Protect Immigrants

A counttywide plan to protect immigrants in Los Angeles was passed by the Board of Supervisors Tuesday evening. 

Supervisors Linda Solis and Sheila Kuehl co-authored the Immigration Protection Motion. The motion calls for a county-wide plan to protect the data and identities of local immigrant communities. The motion also explores the possibility of creating an LA County Office or Department of Immigrant Affairs.

Solis told NBC4 that the motion is a way to show Washington just how devastating President-Elect Trump’s ideas to deport millions could be to Los Angeles.

"We have 3 million people who are immigrants, one million are undocumented that we know of," Solis said.

Some may see the motion as overstepping its bounds with the federal government, but Solis said that throughout the country, "you’re going to see jurisdictions taking the same position."

Diego Sepulveda, who supports the motion, shared his story with the board. He was only 4 years old when his parents brought him from Mexico, and lived here illegally for 24 years.

"Since then I've been able to go through the K through 12 system here in California, went to Community College, graduated from UCLA and started an MBA program," Sepulveda said.

But, he did all that while living in the so-called "shadows." He was a Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) recipient, part of President Barack Obama’s deferred action for childhood arrivals, and is now a green card holder.

"We come to this country to reach our dreams and aspirations and we want to able to do that for other people as well," he added.

But, Seupulveda’s parents and siblings remain undocumented. And he says that’s what scares him most about a Trump presidency and why he stands behind the motion.

"I think the country has a responsibility to make sure its residents are protected."

The motion was passed around 6 p.m. Tuesday.