Many hardworking Orange County residents are at risk of being deported because of the manner in which they entered the country. In December 2013, the Los Angeles City Council adopted a resolution to end deportation of undocumented immigrants who do not have a serious criminal history. According to a FOX 11 news report, the city of Anaheim is considering passing a similar resolution to protect undocumented immigrants who do not pose a threat to society.

Councilman Jordan Brandman has officially proposed the resolution because of the number of hardworking locals who are just trying to live the American dream. Brandman has already gained the support from a number of local labor groups including the SEIU, Justice for Janitors, and Teamsters Local 952.

It is unclear if this proposal will go through, or if it will make a real impact. The fact that the proposal was made at all suggests a shift in tone regarding deportation. While immigration services continues to aggressively pursue and deport undocumented citizens, many local residents would prefer the government to allow these hard working individuals to stay.

President Obama has stated that he does not have the power to end deportations. That being said, immigration reform appears to be an important part of his political strategy for the year. He specifically talked about immigration reform as one of his goals during his State of the Union address last month.

Unless there are more politicians like Councilman Brandman who step up to fight for an end to deportation, this is a problem that will not go away anytime soon. Families will continue to get torn apart unless something is done. Anyone facing possible deportation will need to act quickly. It is possible to delay or even halt a deportation with legal guidance. Building a deportation defense can be a complicated process. An experienced Los Angeles immigration lawyer will be able to help you assess your options under such tough circumstances.