Lawlessness on Steroids
Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7 New Life FM, November 6, 2015 – By Sue Ella Deadwyler
When 340 jurisdictions in the United States give sanctuary to illegal aliens, it’s a serious two-fold problem. 1) Local governments that give sanctuary are ignoring laws against entering the U.S. illegally, and 2) are refusing to enforce federal law requiring them to report to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) illegal aliens that commit crimes there.
The problem is so serious that Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter from California introduced an Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act as a first step to stopping it. If it became law, State Criminal Alien Assistance funding would be withheld from state or local governments that inhibit enforcement of federal immigration laws or prohibit officials from gathering citizenship information for any individual. Meaning, local jurisdictions that do not notify ICE would lose their allocation of federal funding, which is almost $800 million for FY 2015 alone.
Also losing funds would be jurisdictions that have enacted a law, policy, or procedure that shuts down such communication with Immigration and Naturalization Service, ICE, or other government entity about individual citizenship or that prohibits local law enforcement from gathering such data.S.R. 3009 passed the U.S. House July 23rd, as two Democrats crossed over to vote FOR it and one Republican voted against it. It went to the Senate, where Louisiana Republican Senator Vitter introduced it as the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act.
In his Senate floor speech, Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas said, “We must send the message that defiance of our laws will no longer be tolerated – whether by the sanctuary cities themselves or the illegal reentry offenders that they harbor.”
When introducing the bill, Representative Hunter explained, “I think we can all agree that any state or locality must comply with the law – and they are required to coordinate and cooperate with the federal government. If an arrest is made, the federal government should be notified. The fact that San Francisco, Los Angeles and other cities disagree with the politics of federal enforcement doesn’t mean they should receive a pass to subvert the law. It’s time we stand up to sanctuaries – and begin holding them accountable for their failure to uphold the law. And I look forward to taking the other necessary steps to confront sanctuary policies and jurisdiction.”
Unfortunately, the Senate killed the bill 54-45. We should demand an explanation for such disregard for the law and request a re-do on that vote! For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.