Salinas >> The Salinas City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to take action in federal court against President Trump and the executive branch to prevent its implementation of the executive order against sanctuary cities.

The vote was taken in closed session and directs the city attorney to take legal action.

“Over the next few weeks we will prepare the appropriate papers and have them filed in the United States Federal District Court in San Jose. Salinas will lead the region on this issue and will stand up for all its residents,” said Salinas City Attorney Chris Callihan. “Salinas will join other cities and counties taking a stand on behalf of their residents, including San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles and Santa Clara County.”

Salinas Mayor Joe Gunter said he did not support declaring Salinas a sanctuary city since it would only be symbolic and do nothing to protect the city’s residents or keep families together.

But, he and the council voted to direct the city attorney to take legal action to protect the city’s right to be a sanctuary city while at the same time, not risking the tens of millions of dollars in federal funding the city receives each year which would also protect all its residents, regardless of their immigration status.

The Salinas City Council had previously voted 4-3 not to approve a resolution that would have declared Salinas a sanctuary city and risked it losing its federal funding.

“Salinas, like most of Monterey County, is dependent on the agricultural economy. That economy is supported by immigrant workers who may or may not be in the country legally,” said Gunther. “The city should not get into the middle of that discussion, since that is a matter for the federal government to handle. If those hard-working families are ripped apart and deported, not only will they suffer, but the local economy will suffer – all of us will suffer.”

Callihan said that the action will be a significant undertaking for the city and his office, but it is one that is critical for the safety and the security of Salinas and all its residents to protect them from the unconstitutional acts of the president and his executive branch.

James Herrera can be reached at 831-726-4344.