Three weeks after the Los Alamitos City Council voted to opt-out of the state sanctuary laws, a group of residents gathered at the same spot Monday evening to deliver a different message: “Immigrants are welcome here.”

Meanwhile, elected officials in Orange, Westminster and Newport Beach are scheduled this week to consider whether they want to join the anti-sanctuary movement.

A new coalition calling itself Los Alamitos Community United gathered outside City Hall with about 50 adults and children in response to the March 19 vote from the City Council, which is scheduled to give final approval to its ordinance against the sanctuary state laws on April 16.

“The Bible reminds us that we have all been immigrants, that Jesus was an undocumented immigrant, and that we are commanded to welcome the immigrant in our midst,” said Rev. Sam Pullen, pastor at the nearby Community Congregational United Church of Christ in Los Alamitos.

Ellie Chen, 7, holds a protest sign outside of city hall in Los Alamitos on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Brady Ushijima is lifted up by his father as he holds a protest sign in front of Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

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Paul Scott was one of more than 50 protestors who gathered in front of Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

More than 50 protestors who gathered in front of Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Protestors held signs along Katella Avenue in front of Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)



Reverend Sam Pullen led a group of protestors outside Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Emy Chen, 10, was one of several protestors to speak during a demonstration on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Paul Scott cheers a speech during a protest outside Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Olive Glicken, 2, plays in a rock garden decorated with flags after Monday’s protest. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Emy Chen, 10, looks at her mother Cathery Yeh after Monday’s protest at witch Emy spoke. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)



Reverend Sam Pullen led a protest outside Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Reverend Sam Pullen led a protest outside Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

Ellie Chen, 7, held a protest sign during a protest in front of Los Alamitos’ city hall on Monday. A new coalition, Los Alamitos Community United, met outside Los Alamitos City Hall Monday to express its opposition to the City Council’s anti-sanctuary move.Photo by Bill Alkofer, contributing photographer)

“If the city of Los Alamitos does not abide by the California Values Act, our church will defy the local ordinance by offering sanctuary to immigrants in our community. No human being is illegal in the eyes of God,” Pullen said.

The California Values Act, or SB-54, is one of three California laws subject to a federal lawsuit by the Trump administration, which accuses state legislators of constitutional overreach in its efforts to protect people living in the country illegally. State legislators and immigrant-rights advocates counter that the laws are constitutional and needed to protect unauthorized immigrants in the workplace, public schools, libraries and medical facilities.

Since Los Alamitos’ action last month, Aliso Viejo, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Mission Viejo, San Juan Capistrano, and the Orange County Board of Supervisors have taken various actions to voice opposition to the state laws.

Meanwhile, the Santa Ana City Council voted to re-affirm its position by backing California in the lawsuit it faces from the federal government.