California and many of its local governments, including Los Angeles and San Diego County, have taken a stand against deportations, passing resolutions to refuse cooperation with federal immigration agencies.

Mayor Bill Wells supported El Cajon’s resolution as-is and cast the only vote opposing an alternate motion to have it returned with new wording. That redo aims to clarify the resolution’s intent: to protect all residents by working with ICE officers in assisting with arrests only of migrants who had committed serious crimes.

The city of El Cajon delayed a vote on a resolution that declared its intent to assist federal immigration authorities "to the maximum legal extent possible."

The resolution seeks to address a state law restricting the extent to which California law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration authorities.