Sanctuary city

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A sanctuary city is a term given to a city in the United States that follows certain practices that protect illegal immigrants. These practices can be by law (de jure) or they can be by habit (de facto). The term generally applies to cities that do not allow municipal funds or resources to be used to enforce federal immigration laws, usually by not allowing police or municipal employees to inquire about ones immigration status. The designation has no legal meaning.^[1]

Contents 1 History of Sanctuary Cities 1.1 Political Action 2 Viewpoints 2.1 Support 2.2 Opposition 3 Electoral politics 4 References

[edit] History of Sanctuary Cities

Cities in the United States began designating themselves as sanctuary cities during the 1980s.^[2] They are Washington, D.C.; New York City; Los Angeles; Chicago; San Francisco; Santa Ana; San Diego; Salt Lake City; Phoenix; Dallas; Houston; Austin; Detroit; Jersey City; Minneapolis; Miami; Denver; Baltimore; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; New Haven, Connecticut; and Portland, Maine. These cities have adopted "sanctuary" ordinances banning city employees and police officers from asking people about their immigration status.^[3][4]

[edit] Political Action

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. ^[5] Additionally, the legislation outlawed cities' bans against municipal workers' reporting persons' immigration status to federal authorities. ^[6]

Section 287(g) makes it possible for state and local law enforcement personnel to enter into agreements with the federal government to be trained in immigration enforcement and, subsequent to such training, to enforce immigration law. However, it provides no general power for immigration enforcement by state and local authorities.^[7] This provision was implemented by local and state authorities in five states, California, Arizona, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina by the end of 2006.^[8] 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.^[9]

In 2007, Republican Congresspersons introduced legislation targeting sanctuary cities.^[10] Reps. Brian Bilbray, R-Cal., Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Fla., Thelma Drake, R-Va., Jeff Miller, R-Fla., and Tom Tancredo, R-Colo introduced the bill. The legislation would make undocumented immigrant status a felony, instead of a civil offense. Also, the bill targets sanctuary cities by withholding up to 50 percent of Department of Homeland Security funds from the cities.^[11]

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." ^[12]

[edit] Viewpoints

[edit] Support

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Proponents of such policies argue that they promote efforts of police and public health departments to cooperate with immigrant communities in order to reduce crime and improve public health in those communities.^[13] A group of 57 police chiefs across the United States supported sanctuary cities by stating that local enforcement of federal law would "undermine trust and cooperation" among immigrants.^[14]

[edit] Opposition

Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion.

Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute has written that the sanctuary policy derives from reluctance of politicians to alienate cities' immigrant populations. They contend that the size of these communities has increased their clout. ^{[15][opinion needs balancing]}

The concern of repeat offenders due to sanctuary cities was also brought up by commentator Bill O'Reilly of Fox News Channel.

[edit] Electoral politics

This issue entered presidential politics in the race for the Republican Party presidential nomination in 2008. Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo ran on an anti-illegal immigration platform and specifically attacked sanctuary cities. Former Massachusetts gov. Mitt Romney accused former mayor Rudy Giuliani of running New York City as a sanctuary city.^[16] Giuliani's campaign responded saying that Romney ran a sanctuary Governors mansion, and that New York City is not a "haven" for illegal immigrants.^[16]

[edit] References