Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee and several City Council members announced Monday their support for a proposed ordinance that would expand protections for immigrants. The City Council is expected to vote on the measure Tuesday. The proposed ordinance would keep residents’ information private by re stricting the collection of immigration status on city applications. It would also prohibit city employees and Oakland police officers from asking about a person’s legal status or sharing that information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Under the proposal, Oakland police officers would also be barred from enforcing federal immigration laws. ICE agents would be prohibited from entering non-public areas of city buildings without a warrant. City officials said fear of ICE raids and immigration enforcement has led to a 57% increase in absenteeism at English learner schools in areas such as East Oakland and Fruitvale. Officials also said some local businesses have seen a 20% to 30% decline because some immigrants are afraid to leave their homes. President Donald Trump and his administration have argued that sanctuary city and state policies have led to the release of violent criminals, including people accused of rape and murder, and have threatened to withhold federal funding and impose other penalties. However, The New York Times reported Sunday that California and other sanctuary states regularly cooperate with ICE in tens of thousands of cases each year and turn over people charged with serious and violent crimes. ...read more read less