Dear City Council Members,
Concerning this proposal, I can understand the desire for a resolution supporting immigrant residents.
However, I strongly object to Section 2’s singling out for city protection one class of immigrants, “undocumented individuals,” who are by definition lawbreakers, in the sentence: “All City of Santa Maria policies and procedures are in compliance with California state laws that protect undocumented individuals, including Senate Bill 54 (2017) (SB 54).”
You have taken an oath to “support and defend” and “bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States,” not to support and protect people breaking laws of the United States. That you state the city’s general compliance with state laws, however objectionable they may be to many of us, is at least defensible. However, that you have the city specifically endorse protection for breaking laws passed under the U.S. Constitution is beyond the pale and I believe betrays your oath.
I urge that if you must pass this resolution, which I find demeaning to law-abiding citizens of this city, that you at least delete the specific endorsement of lawbreakers and make the sentence read simply: “All City of Santa Maria policies and procedures are in compliance with California state laws, including Senate Bill 54 (2017) (SB54).”
With thanks for your consideration,
Hunter T. Jameson