Riverside City Council Candidate Rafael Elizalde caught on Cam Asking Illegal Immigrants to vote for him

About 200 people converged on Riverside City Hall Tuesday, Feb. 7, to support or oppose a resident’s suggestion that Riverside become a sanctuary city.


The City Council is listening to people’s comments during its meeting, but council members will not vote on the issue because there is no sanctuary city proposal on their agenda.


Supporters, led by Riverside resident Rafael Elizalde, want the council to pass a resolution that declares immigration law is a federal responsibility, and that the city would not collect or share data such as religion or citizenship status to help create a national registry or enforce immigration law.


Elizalde, an aide to Rep. Mark Takano, D-Riverside, is campaigning for a Riverside City Council seat.


Opponents, some of whom have called and emailed city officials, are urging the council to reject the proposal, citing concerns about crime, potential loss of federal funding and objections to illegal immigration.


The crowd, watched over by extra police officers, filled the council chambers. An officer turned people away, but some held up signs to be read through the glass.


Mayor Rusty Bailey told the audience that nearly 60 people had filled out cards wishing to speak on the issue. He asked people to be respectful, but boos and other noises could be heard as residents spoke.


People spoke on both sides of the issue.



“In heaven they have a wall, they have a gate, they have extreme vetting,” Ken Hunter said. “If the most important sanctuary city that exists has those, I think we should too.”