How Long Beach Handles Immigration Policy: A Practical Guide

Long Beach maintains 197 local ordinances across all categories, and 2 of those deal specifically with immigration policy. Here is a breakdown of what the city actually requires, what is prohibited, and where Long Beach falls on the strict-to-permissive spectrum compared to other cities.

E-Verify Mandates

Long Beach does not mandate E-Verify for private employers. California restricts mandatory E-Verify outside federal contractors, leaving the program voluntary for most Long Beach businesses.

Key details: State law: Labor Code section 2814. Mandate status: Voluntary in California. Federal contractors: Must comply with FAR clause. Long Beach mandate: None adopted. Penalty: Up to $10,000 per violation.

Compelling E-Verify outside federal mandates can yield civil penalties up to $10,000 per violation under Labor Code 2814 plus discrimination liability through the Civil Rights Department.

Long Beach is more permissive than most cities when it comes to e-verify mandates. That said, there are still limits.

Sanctuary Policy Preemption

Long Beach adopted sanctuary-city resolutions limiting cooperation between local police and federal immigration enforcement. The city follows California SB 54, the statewide TRUST Act, restricting ICE coordination.

Key details: State authority: Government Code 7284. City policy: Sanctuary resolution. ICE detainers: Judicial warrant required. Status questions: Not asked routinely. Coordinator: Long Beach Office of Equity.

Officers violating the policy face internal discipline. Federal preemption challenges to sanctuary laws have generally failed in the Ninth Circuit, leaving SB 54 and the local resolution intact.

Long Beach is more permissive than most cities when it comes to sanctuary policy preemption. That said, there are still limits.

The Bottom Line

Compared to many U.S. cities, Long Beach gives residents more room on immigration policy. 2 of the 2 rules here are rated permissive. But permissive does not mean unregulated. There are still requirements, and the city does enforce them when violations are reported.

These rules come from Long Beach's publicly available municipal code. For complete penalty schedules, exemption details, and answers to common questions, see the individual ordinance pages throughout this guide.