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Dozens of people attended the city council meeting on Monday. Redwood City In support of a proposal by Councilman Chris Sturken, the council was to vote Dec. 16 on an ordinance to restrict the use of city resources to assist or cooperate with immigration authorities; however, council members pushed the vote to 2025.
This proposal is a consequence of Trump's election. The community wants to ensure that it has an ordinance in place before the president-elect's administration takes office. This is so that the city can be prepared for possible mass deportations of undocumented immigrants.
There were 26 in-person comments and 24 written comments at the meeting. Nine-year-old Leia Lopez took the stand and said, "I love Redwood City because I think it's full of kind people. I think it should be a sanctuary city to protect families who want to live in peace. People come here to work hard and make a better life for their children, just like my parents do. We should help them, not make them afraid. Thank you."
Common themes among supporters of the ordinance were that they wanted to ensure that immigrants in Redwood City could live safely and freely without fear that the local government would work with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in the event of a mass deportation.
Residents also stressed the importance of remembering the fundamental role that immigrants play in the community and the economic impact that a deportation like this could have on the city.
They also called for the city to remember that it has a responsibility to protect its community properly.
Parents, educators, teens, children and community members lined up one after another to make public comments, all in support of protecting the immigrant community.
The elementary school students representing Casa Círculo Cultural definitely captured people's attention when they went up on stage to speak and tell their testimonies about how they feared for their families, friends, and community because the city did not have the Sanctuary ordinance.
Ten-year-old Santiago Zapian said, “Redwood City is my home. I think it should be Sanctuary City because some of my friends are worried about their families, and that’s not fair, we should all look out for each other so no one feels afraid to be here.”
Nine-year-old Liah Lopez took the stand and said, "I love Redwood City because I think it's full of kind people, and I think it should be a Sanctuary City to protect families who want to live in peace. People come here to work hard and make a better life for their children, just like my parents do. We should help them, not make them afraid. Thank you."
Bella Guajardo, 10, reminded that "everyone deserves to feel safe and welcomed, no matter where they come from. Families like mine want to live, work, and go to school without fear. Come on, my friends and I believe that schools should be a place where we can all grow up together, happy and free. Please stay calm and help keep our families together, and make Redwood City a sanctuary for all!"
Opponents of the ordinance had a common theme: They wanted the city council to either put the ordinance to a popular vote, or reject it because they believe making the city a Sanctuary City will increase crime and raise the cost of resources that should be prioritized for American citizens.
Thomas and Catherine Delfs said in a written comment that they are concerned about the city becoming a Sanctuary City because it would increase the crime rate and allow immigrants to access all the resources, such as affordable housing, despite not being U.S. citizens.
The council decided to postpone discussions on the ordinance until early 2025 to allow for further research into it. The council voted 4-3 on the matter.
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