Santa Ana declared a sanctuary city in unanimous vote by council

SANTA ANA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Santa Ana City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to declare the municipality a sanctuary city, marking the first time such a resolution to protect undocumented immigrants has been passed in Orange County.

The move was largely symbolic but is seen as an act of defiance against President-elect Donald Trump and his stated immigration policies.

Following passage of the resolution, the city of 340,000 will not enforce federal immigration laws or take action against someone solely because of that person's immigration status. Nor will city resources be used for federal immigration enforcement unless contractually obligated.

The city is looking to terminate its contract with the Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, which uses space in Santa Ana's jails.

"We don't need to be criminalizing people that don't need to be criminalized," said a man during the public comment period of the Tuesday's city council meeting.