Please attribute the following statement to Hector Villagra, executive director of the ACLU of Southern California, in regards to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's executive order signed yesterday, protecting immigrant communities in the city:
"We commend Mayor Garcetti for signing an exemplary executive directive that proclaims that the City of Los Angeles will not take part in the deportation of its residents, ensuring that city residents can access vital city services without fear. The actions taken by the mayor, along with Chief of Police Charlie Beck and City Councilmember Gil Cedillo, signal the city's renewed commitment to protecting and uplifting its immigrant communities. As directed, the actions would help to keep all Angelenos safe while upholding their constitutional rights.
We hope that the mayor's leadership on this critical issue will inspire other cities to follow suit and restore America's calling as a place of refuge, inclusion and decency."