Group wants Palm Springs to become sanctuary city
A local organization is joining a national protest this week as the group plans to gather at City Hall on Tuesday to call on city officials to declare Palm Springs a “sanctuary city.”
The event is sponsored by “The Courageous Resistance: Palm Springs and Other Desert Cities.” Coordinators said the group is in alliance with MoveOn, Working Families Party, Indivisible, and other groups across the country.
The group says it will ask the Palm Springs City Council and Mayor Robert Moon to take legislative action via ordinance. Coordinators also said they stand with Oakland, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle, Boston, New York, Austin and many other cities refusing to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive orders on immigration which they said hurt our families and communities.
“We need to stand up and we need to stand up for each other,” Joy Silver with Courageous Resistance said.
Last week, Trump signed two executive orders on illegal immigration, sparking a nationwide response the Department of Homeland Security was directed to crack down on sanctuary cities.
“I’m first generation. My parents immigrated from Mexico. For me it’s something that’s tied into my roots,” Neftali Galarza said.
Sanctuary cities protect and provide refuge for illegal and undocumented immigrants. Palm Springs may not have the title of a sanctuary city but city leaders say they will continue to operate like one.
“We have strong policies and laws in place that makes sure that every resident is protected,” Palm Springs City Councilman Geoff Kors said.
“I think unofficially we are adhering to what a sanctuary city would be,” Palm Springs Police Chief Bryan Reyes said.
In Desert Hot Springs and Indio, leaders don’t have any plans to become sanctuary cities. Cathedral City leaders, say they have similar policies to Palm Springs, stating: “Every person in our community, regardless of their race or ethnicity, gender, religion, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender identity is a valued member of our community and is entitled to equal protection of the law.”
In Coachella, Mayor Steven Hernandez said the city is a sanctuary city and will maintain its status as one. Some activists say they want more cities to take a stand in defiance for what they say is discrimination.
“We’ve seen it before and if we don’t stand up now it’s just a domino effect about everyone and all of our civil rights,” Silver said.
Courageous Resistance will rally with other human rights groups in front of Palm Springs City Hall Tuesday at 12 p.m. to ask the city to stand in solidarity and take the title of a sanctuary city.
