The city council in Los Alamitos voted on Monday night to exempt itself from the state's so-called sanctuary law, which limits cooperation between local enforcement and federal immigration agents authorities.
And in the process, the Orange County city of fewer than 12,000 is aligning itself with a harder line on immigration than the more liberal policies adopted elsewhere in California.
The state's sanctuary law, Senate Bill 54, took effect on Jan. 1. And with a 4-1 vote, the Los Alamitos council approved an ordinance to opt out of it.
The council's chambers were packed with people supporting both sides, as the Los Angeles Times reports:
About 160 people showed up to Monday's regular City Council meeting, a monthly event that rarely draws enough people to fill the 40-seat chamber. Speakers lined up late into the evening to address elected officials, who eventually voted 4-to-1 to approve the ordinance.
"Sometimes things are bigger than we are," said Mayor Troy D. Edgar.
Cheers erupted inside the chamber after the vote, with some shouting "Patriots!" and "This is a win for America!" as others waved pro-Trump flags.
Councilman Warren Kusumoto said the vote wasn't about immigration, according to The Orange County Register. "This council is looking out for the constituents in our city," he said.