Bakersfield officials are considering a policy that could formally designate the city as a sanctuary for undocumented immigrants, sparking a contentious debate among residents. The big picture: The council has not approved a sanctuary city ordinance or scheduled a final vote. Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur also asked the city attorney to organize a public forum concerning local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. “A sanctuary city means absolutely nothing,” Youngblood told 23ABC. That raises questions about what a formal sanctuary city policy would change beyond establishing the council’s political position and potentially placing additional restrictions on city employees.