California city aims to opt out of state's 'sanctuary' law
LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. (AP) — The heated battle over immigration exploded in a small Southern California city as elected officials took steps to opt out of a state law limiting cooperation between police and federal deportation agents.
Residents in the tight-knit Orange County community of Los Alamitos packed the City Council chambers Monday night as leaders voted 4-1 in favor of a measure to declare the city exempt from California's so-called sanctuary law, citing constitutional concerns.
The move in the city of 12,000 mostly American-born residents has stoked intense passions among those opposed to illegal immigration and those who think local police should focus on crime-fighting, not deportation.