Measure approved to protect Los Angeles County immigrants from deportation

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a measure to protect local immigrants from deportation Tuesday.

The measure comes in direct response to fears and anxiety over President-elect Donald Trump's campaign promises, which involved the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants.

"It's incumbent on us to be brave, which we're prepared to do - to step up, to say to him, 'Not in my house, not in my county, not in my state.' And we will," Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said.

Nearly 200 people signed up to speak in front of the board, urging them to pass the motion that converts the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program into a county immigrant protection task force. Commentary lasted for about three hours.

The goal is to create a plan to protect the information and identities of the millions of immigrant residents in Los Angeles County who could be impacted by any federal policy changes.

There are more than 3 million immigrants in the county, and nearly half of them are U.S. citizens. Fifty-seven percent of county children have a parent who was born in another country.

The task force will work with immigrant and civil rights organizations, as well as the office of education and the sheriff's department. The group will also look into creating a department of immigration affairs.