Lynwood, California, with a population approximately 88% Latino, declared itself a Sanctuary City. After months of negotiations and back-and-forth, the five members of the City Council, all Latino, voted unanimously in favor.

“This city policy ensures that city employees have clear rules about what they cannot cooperate with immigration agents about; but it also amends how we hire,” said Councilman Juan Munoz Guevara, who worked for seven months to get the Sanctuary Law passed in Lynwood.

He explained that this means we will not hire any company that does business with ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement).

“If they lie to us and don't disclose this information, the City of Lynwood can terminate those contracts at any time.”

He added that different organizations formed a coalition with teachers' unions, health workers, and various individuals and groups to push the council members to approve this measure.

The five council members Gabriela Camacho, the current mayor of Lynwood, Lorraine Avila, Luis Gerardo Cuellar, Rita Soto, and Juan Munoz voted in favor.

“The city’s responsibility is to provide services, protect taxes, and use them responsibly,” said Councilman Munoz.

He pointed out that Lynwood is primarily a Latino and immigrant city, and its people do not want their taxes to be used to support a federal agency that terrorizes its population and interferes in their lives.

“Our residents, some immigrants and others of immigrant origin, want their tax money to work to generate services and not be used irresponsibly by agencies that foster fear.”

The prohibitions contained in Lynwood’s Sanctuary Law are:

United in Lynwood

Ana Mendez, creator along with four other residents of the @UnidosenLynwood platform, And someone who has lived in Lynwood for the last 20 years said that Immigration has been in the city about ten times between 2025 and 2026.“Our family members have been in danger, and elected officials must do something to protect the community; they can’t say they can’t do much, and that the federal government is more powerful than us because it can always be done,” she said. She commented that many times elected officials say they want to do something but do nothing, or they say one thing and do the opposite; that’s why approving the Sanctuary City designation has made them feel heard and protected. “By declaring it a Sanctuary, we know they won’t share information with ICE and won’t use buildings, offices, or resources to help them.” The organizer said the community wanted that Sanctuary City protection; And having obtained it makes them feel fortunate.

“The Council members have shown with actions, not just words, that they are on our side.”

And she added that this step is very important because there is a lot of fear in Lynwood.

“We have seen how ICE is arresting people who, for example, are waiting for the bus. The community is very afraid; they don't want to go out to work or pick up food donations. The students are frustrated because many parents don't have documents.”

Because they are a small community, word travels fast when someone is detained, and the fear spreads.

“Even if we don't know them, it hurts us because it's our neighbor who was taken; and we worry about the pain of seeing families separated. Most people have these kinds of feelings. We put ourselves in their shoes, and that's why we fought for Sanctuary City status in Lynwood.”

Lynwood has between 63,596 and 65,291 inhabitants, and covers 4.83 square miles.

A Convincing Effort

Activist Carlos Amador of the CLEAN Car Wash Workers Center said they began having conversations with council members in July, and held meetings with most of them to raise awareness and convince them of the importance of declaring it a Sanctuary.

“Initially, the issue was going to be scheduled for November, and then there was a change of mayor, it was delayed, but the new mayor, Gabriela Camacho, committed to putting it on the agenda; she did, and we achieved it on Wednesday, February 3,” he said. He maintained that the Sanctuary Coalition has gone from city to city in Los Angeles County to strengthen protections for the immigrant community. “In the case of Lynwood, we made the effort to educate the council members and the community itself. It wasn't that they opposed it, but they had doubts and questions. We are proud to have clarified for them that these types of local laws are legitimate.”He said that some council members are concerned about potential retaliation from the federal government for becoming a Sanctuary City, specifically the possibility of losing federal funding. “We pointed out to them that there have been legal challenges against Sanctuary Cities in the past, but they have won and fared very well in those battles. So there was nothing to fear. They, as council members, have the right to protect their population.” He emphasized that this action is necessary because the presence of migrants in Lynwood has intensified since last summer. “We’ve had raids throughout Los Angeles County, and Lynwood has been no exception. They have been impacted; and that’s why protection and education are needed.”

Amador noted that a key point of the Lynwood ordinance is that, unlike others, it includes a very important provision prohibiting the hiring of companies that collaborate with ICE.

“It’s a motion that helps set limits.”

Sanctuary Cities

The Los Angeles Sanctuary Coalition fought for and succeeded in having Los Angeles, Burbank, Huntington Park, and now Lynwood declared sanctuary cities.

During Trump’s first administration, cities like Long Beach and Pasadena became sanctuaries.

Of the 88 cities that make up Los Angeles County, less than 10% have passed laws that make them sanctuaries for immigrants and that essentially deny ICE access to municipal information, resources, and property, Amador said.

On November 19, 2024, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to establish formally the city as a Sanctuary City.

This means it prohibits the use of city resources, property, or personnel for the enforcement of federal immigration laws and cooperation with federal immigration agents.

On July 7, 2025, the Huntington Park City Council unanimously passed an ordinance officially designating it as a sanctuary city.

On February 11, 2025, the Burbank City Council adopted a resolution reinforcing its commitment as a welcoming, safe, and inclusive community, stating that no city employee may collect or disclose immigration-related information except as required by law.

San Fernando did not declare itself as such a Sanctuary City, but passed the Safe San Fernando resolution to protect personal data, the use of city facilities, and provide more safeguards for immigrants.

West Hollywood officially became a sanctuary city on November 25, 1985, when the City Council adopted a resolution to protect immigrants fleeing persecution.

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