Sanctuary city

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 one's immigration status. The designation has no legal meaning.^[1]

==History of sanctuary cities== Certain cities in the United States began designating themselves as sanctuary cities during the 1980s.^[1] The policy was first initiated in 1979 in Los Angeles, to prevent police from inquiring about the immigration status of arrestees. The internal policy, "Special Order 40," states: "Officers shall not initiate police action with the objective of discovering the alien status of a person. Officers shall not arrest nor book persons for violation of title 8, section 1325 of the United States Immigration code (Illegal Entry)."^[2] Some of the 31 American cities are Washington, D.C.; New York City (see also Illegal immigration in New York City); Jersey City; Los Angeles; San Francisco; Santa Ana; San Diego; San Jose; Oakland; Salt Lake City; El Paso; Houston; Detroit; Chicago; Minneapolis; Miami; Denver; Baltimore; Seattle; Portland, Oregon; New Haven; Somerville; Cambridge; Portland, Maine; and Tulsa.^[3] These cities have adopted "sanctuary" ordinances banning city employees and police officers from asking people about their immigration status.^[4][5]

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.^[6] Additionally, the legislation outlawed cities' bans against municipal workers' reporting persons' immigration status to federal authorities.^[7]

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.^[8] This provision was implemented by local and state authorities in five states, California, Arizona, Alabama, Florida and North Carolina by the end of 2006.^[9] 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.^[10]

In 2007, Republican representatives introduced legislation targeting sanctuary cities. 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 illegal 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 he 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][13] On May 5, 2009, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue signed a bill into law that prohibited sanctuary city policies in the state of Georgia.^[14]

On June 5, 2009, the Tennessee state House passed a bill banning the implementation of sanctuary city policies within the state of Tennessee.^[15]

A July 30, 2010, editorial in the Wall Street Journal, written by the former general counsel of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, questioned the future of these havens in light of the federal court decision that on July 28 struck down key provisions of Arizona's immigration act (SB 1070).^[16] It stated, in part: "Judge Susan Bolton ... handed Arizona a significant victory against renegade localities seeking to undercut our nation's immigration laws."

In May 2010, the Texas State Legislature was working on a law to ban the practice.^[17]

In June 2011, Texas Governor Rick Perry proposed legislation to ban sanctuary cities, SB 9, to the Special Session agenda for the State Legislature.^[18] Public hearings on the sanctuary cities legislation were held before the Texas Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee on June 13, 2011.^[19]

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 governor Mitt Romney accused former mayor Rudy Giuliani of running New York City as a sanctuary city.^[20] Giuliani's campaign responded saying that Romney ran a sanctuary Governor's mansion, and that New York City is not a "haven" for illegal immigrants.^[20]

After the murder of a restaurant waitress in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in late June 2009 that was suspected to be perpetrated by three illegal immigrants (one of whom was not deported despite being arrested for two prior DUI incidents), mayoral candidate Richard Berry decried the city's sanctuary city policy. He also vowed, if elected, to repeal the policy that has been continued by the incumbent mayor, Martin Chavez.^[21]

Public support

A 2011 poll found that 59% supported Rep. Lou Barletta’s proposal to remove federal funding to sanctuary cities. 58% wanted the Justice Department to take actions against such cities.^[22]

Criticism

The concept of sanctuary cities has been criticized as confusing by pro-amnesty groups. They accuse opponents of illegal immigration of using it to misrepresent and politicize accepted community policing practices, practices which require local law enforcement agencies to maintain good relations with the entire community, including with alien residents, in their jurisdiction.^[23]

See also

• Right of asylum
• Safe harbor (law)
• Safe-haven law
• Safe house
• Sanctuary movement

References