SANCTUARY CITY

A 'sanctuary city' is a city in which immigration law is not enforced. The city is a sanctuary for illegal immigrants who wish to avoid deportation.

Contents

United States

Legislation addressing relationship between federal and lower levels of government

Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement

Public opinion

References

United States

Many cities in the United States are sanctuary cities, including Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego, Salt Lake City, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, Austin, Detroit, Jersey City, Minneapolis, Miami, Denver, Baltimore, Seattle, Portland, Oregon and Portland, Maine. These cities have adopted "sanctuary" ordinances banning city employees and police officers from asking people about their immigration status.^[1]
Critics have argued that a large proportion of violent crimes in some sanctuary cities result from this policy. 95% of outstanding homicide warrants in Los Angeles are for illegal immigrants (as half of the outstanding arrest warrants in Los Angeles are for Mexican nationals who have fled the country, and hence cannot be arrested here).^[2] (These data originate from a Center for Immigration Studies report which relied on data from a confidential California Department of Justice study.^[3]) Two-thirds of felony warrants in Los Angeles are for illegal immigrants. Critics additionally argue that the policy provides a refuge for international gangs such as the MS-13 gang.^[4]
Critics have attributed the sanctuary policy a reluctance of politians to alienating cities' immigrant populations. They contend that the size of these communities has increased their clout. ^[5]
Concern is growing in Newark, New Jersey, following the execution-style murders of three young men. Critics have expressed concern that the prime suspect is an illegal immigrant.^[6] City councilor Ron Rice pointed to the city's sanctuary status and suggested that Newark reconsider its sanctuary city status.^[7] State Senator Nick Asselta has likewise expressed concern revisiting the sanctuary posture at the state level.^[8]
Critics of the sanctuary city movement have gone as far with their efforts as to put the pictures and home phone numbers of elected officials in the cities up on billboards, regardless of whether they had anything to do with the ordinance.^[9]

Legislation addressing relationship between federal and lower levels of government

The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 addressed the relationship between the federal government and local governments. Minor crimes, such as shoplifting, became grounds for possible deportation. ^[10]
Additionally, the legislation outlawed cities' bans against municipal workers' reporting persons' immigration status to federal authorities. ^[11]
Section 287(g) is a program of the act that deputizes state and local law enforcement personnel to enforce immigration matters. ^{[10]
[13][14]} This provision was implemented by local and state authorities in five states, California, Arizona, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina by the end of 2006. ^[15] On June 16, 2007 the United States House of Representatives passed an amendment to a Department of Homeland Security spending bill that would withhold federal emergency services funds from sanctuary cities. Congressman Tom Tancredo (Republican-Colorado) was the sponsor of this amendment. 50 Democrats joined Republicans to support the amendment. The amendment would have to pass the United States Senate to become effective.^[16]

Department of Homeland Security and law enforcement

On September 5, 2007 Department of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff told a House committee that "I certainly wouldn't tolerate interference" by sanctuary cities that would block his "Basic Pilot Program" that requires employers to validate the legal status of their workers. “We're exploring our legal options. I intend to take as vigorous legal action as the law allows to prevent that from happening, prevent that kind of interference." ^[17]

Public opinion

An August 18, 2007 Rasmussen Reports poll reported that poll respondents favored cutting off federal funds to sanctuary cities; 29 percent were against cutting off such funds. This issue is more volatile among Republican Party voters than among the populace at large. The poll found that 73 percent support terminating federal funds to sanctuary cities. ^[18]

References

1. U.S. Cities Provide Sanctuary to Illegals
2. Migration News Vol. 5 No. 2
3. Joe Murray, "Tancredo Blasts Newark," "The Bulletin" [of Philadelphia], August 22, 2007
4. 'Sanctuary' for deadly gang WorldNetDaily
5. Heather Mac Donald, "The Illegal-Alien Crime Wave," Winter 2004 ''City Journal'' http://www.city-journal.org/html/14_1_the_illegal_alien.html
6.
Illegal Immigration an Issue in Newark Murders
7.
After murders, Booker and Rice come together
8.
Asselta and Donohue: Time to toughen laws against illegal immigrants
9. City's sanctuary status mocked Yvonne Abraham
10. Elizabeth Llorente, "Newark Killings Become Immigration Flash Point," "The Record," August 14, 2007 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTgxNjYzJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Ng==
11. Ronald Brownstein, "'Sanctuary' as battleground: Romney and Giuliani Spar Over What Roles Cities Should Have in Enforcing Immigration Laws," "Los Angeles Times," August 22, 2007 http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-brownstein22aug22,0,6571076.column?coll=la-opinion-columnists
12. Elizabeth Llorente, "Newark Killings Become Immigration Flash Point," "The Record," August 14, 2007 http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkzJmZnYmVsN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk3MTgxNjYzJnlyaXJ5N2Y3MTdmN3ZxZWVFRXl5Ng==
13. "Cobb ignoring tool aimed at illegals," "Marietta Daily Journal," August 3, 2006 http://www.mdjonline.com/articles/2006/08/03/270/10226979.prt
14. http://www.ice.gov/doclib/pi/news/factsheets/060816dc287gfactsheet.pdf
15. Katie Zezima, "Massachusetts Set for Its Officers to Enforce Immigration Law," "New York Times," December 13, 2006 http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/13/us/13romney.html?ex=1187582400&en=26f4c2bb4c5c983c&ei=5070
16. Tancredo pulls plug on 'sanctuary cities', Even Democrats throw support behind amendment to nix funds to local governments shielding illegals WorldNetDaily
17. Chertoff Warns Sanctuary Cities on Illegals "NewsMax" September 6, 2007 http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/chertoff_illegals/2007/09/06/30532.html
18. Joe Murray, "Poll: Americans Frustrated With Immigration Crisis," [Philadelphia] "Evening Bulletin, August 21, 2007