With recent changes in federal administration it has been made clear that any undocumented immigrant is subject to immediate deportation. The citizens of Ojai instead envision a country of acceptance, safety, and diversity and know that we must start this at our local level. As such, we would like the City Council to strongly consider a legal written policy to become a Sanctuary City effective immediately.

By signing this petition you are asking our City Council members to hear the voice of the people of Ojai and implement an immediate Sanctuary City policy.

What does this mean? If an undocumented immigrant is stopped by a police officer for any reason, police officers in sanctuary cities do not take that opportunity to take the individual into custody and contact ICE, the Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Federal officials must rely on local police to help enforce federal immigration laws, but the law doesn't require local authorities to detain illegal immigrants just because their federal counterparts make a request.