Coachella voted official sanctuary city

After an enormous showing of support from immigrant rights groups, the city of Coachella officially voted to become a sanctuary city Wednesday evening.

With the notion passing at Wednesday’s city council meeting, Coachella becomes the second city in the Coachella Valley to become an official sanctuary city. Cathedral city voted to have that title back in May.

At a previous city council meeting, several activists, many from the group Courageous Resistance took a stand demanding the sanctuary city designation make it on the agenda.

City council members agreed.

“Our people need some victories once in a while to feel safe. I have had a lot of phone calls from parents who worry about their kids, the separation from their kids that are US citizens,” said Amalia Deaztlan, a member of Courageous Resistance.

According to city officials, Coachella already was a pseudo-sanctuary city, following policies where they do not ask for people’s immigration or citizenship status.

Before the vote passed, city officials had said there wouldn’t be any significant changes in the way city services and law enforcement do their jobs.

“We will take a stand and the title of being a sanctuary city. I am ok with that personally. I have always considered Coachella to be a sanctuary city,” said Coachella Mayor Steve Hernandez.

Back in January, President Trump signed an executive order that threatened to take away federal funds from sanctuary cities. That order has not been implemented as it has been tied up in the courts with multiple lawsuits from cities across the country.

The Coachella City Council meeting started at 6:00 p.m. and was jam packed with activists.

JOE GALLI CAN BE FOUND ON FACEBOOK AND ON TWITTER @JOEGALLINEWS