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President Trumps planned crackdown on illegal immigration has sparked fear in parts of Los Angeles, where until recently, those here without proper papers said they felt relatively safe.

Should wekeep the Statue of Liberty or maybe take it down for a while?asked formerCouncilwoman Veronica Guardado of Maywood, a small, predominately Latino immigration city south of downtown L.A. In my city alone, the people who are there, who are undocumented, pay taxes. They pay into the system. When immigrants come here, theyre not just sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. They come to work.

Details about Trumps crackdown remain unclear. On Wednesday, the presidentsigned two executive orders designed tobegin building a wall along the border with Mexico, add lockups for detaining immigrants who cross the border illegally, enhance enforcement powers for border agents andstrip federal funding to cities that refuse to cooperate with immigration enforcement.

According to a draft document reviewed by The Times, under the new order,the federal government would threaten to withhold fundsfrom so-called sanctuary cities that limit cooperation with immigration officials.

Morethan 400 jurisdictions acrossthe country have some sort of sanctuary policy, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and about 40 others in California.

Inside Sheilas flower shop in Cudahy, surrounded by Valentines Day gifts, Olga Torres, 44, and Susan Flores, 45, werent feeling the love.

The women were watching Spanish news about Trumps executive order.

Were worried,Torres said while staring at the television. We dont know whats going to happen.

Its hard enough to findwork without documents, and now Im sure its going to be even harder,she added.

Torres, who is in the country illegally, said shes happy to be living in a sanctuary city like Cudahy, where life isnt too stressful.

I feel secure living here, and you live life like everybody else,she said. I feel respected by the police.

Its a sanctuary. The word says it all,she added. And [Trump] wants to end that.

Flores said she empathizes withher friend Torres.

I spent three years without documents,she said. I know what its like to be walking around always in fear.

If yourein this city, youre fine, but if you go elsewhere, you dont know what peoples attitudes are toward immigrants,she added.

The women, however, fear that living ina city that wont cooperatewith immigration officialswill lead to roundups like those in the 1980s.

So far, nothing like that has happened,Torres said. I hope nothing like that happens.

Torres said she and her husband will do their best to try to find work and live without worrying too much about immigration officials.

Best thing to do is just not to do something that will put in you in a situation where you might get deported,she said.

Supporters of the president praised his tough stance, saying illegal immigration harms the nation and should stop. They also say immigrants here illegally drive down wages and take jobs from American citizens.

But in southeast Los AngelesCounty, the view is different.

Maria Ruiz, 55, sat quietly at the Maywood Riverfront Park watching her granddaughter climbing a playground animal sculpture.

Ruiz, who divides her time between Mexico and Maywood, said she couldnt understand why the president was threatening to punish cities because theyre not cooperating with immigration officials.

I think its unfair,Ruiz said. I support what theyredoing. The city will be fine. Theyll find a way to make up for the loss.

Not far away, drinking a Monster energy drink, Hernan Hernandez, 51, of Compton, said he doesnt agree with the presidents action.

If the president wants to deport illegal immigrants, he can technically do that, and I have no issues with that,he said. But I find it to be asad thingif he wants towithholdmoney from cities, because theyre entitled to it.

We allpay taxes. When I get my paycheck, the federal government takes a piece of it, so the city deserves it.

Hernandez said he doesnt understand why there is so much animosity toward immigrants.

People just want to blame immigrants for X reason when all werereally doing is working,he said. Its not right.

Ruben.Vives@latimes.com

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Trump's crackdown sparks fear and anger among immigrants here illegally - Los Angeles Times