Los Angeles votes to become sanctuary city for unauthorized immigrants

Los Angeles officials voted unanimously to designate the city as a "sanctuary city," aiming to protect unauthorized immigrants from federal deportation efforts. This decision comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares for a second term focused on mass deportations. California's existing sanctuary law from 2017 already limits local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The new designation in Los Angeles is seen as largely symbolic, reinforcing existing protections rather than creating new ones. Sanctuary cities, which exist in various forms across the U.S., aim to foster safer communities by encouraging immigrants to engage with local authorities without fear of deportation. Trump's administration has previously threatened to cut funding to such cities and plans to intensify immigration enforcement.