Mitch Perry
With Donald Trump soon to begin working with a Republican Congress in January, mayors and police chiefs from around the country pushed back this week on immigration issues, specifically saying they would not cooperate with federal efforts to round up undocumented immigrants in their communities.
That’s upsetting to Vern Buchanan, who says it’s time to end federal funding to so-called sanctuary cities.
“Washington needs to send a clear message to sanctuary cities — if you don’t follow the laws, you don’t get federal funding,” the Sarasota U.S. Representative said Wednesday. “It is dangerous and unconscionable that so many cities across the country blatantly ignore the rule of law and still get rewarded with taxpayer dollars.”
The term “sanctuary city” refers to a municipality providing safe harbor to undocumented immigrants. There are reportedly more than 400 such jurisdictions around the nation.
In Los Angeles, Sheriff Charlie Beck said he doesn’t intend to change the city’s stance on immigration enforcement.
“We are not going to engage in law enforcement activities solely based on somebody’s immigration status,” Beck said Monday. “We are not going to work in conjunction with Homeland Security on deportation efforts. That is not our job, nor will I make it our job.”
“Seattle has always been a welcoming city,” said Seattle Mayor Ed Murray on Monday. “The last thing I want is for us to start turning on our neighbors.”
New York City’s Bill de Blasio and Chicago’s Rahm Emanuel made similar remarks this week.
During the presidential campaign, Trump gave an immigration speech in which he promised to “end the sanctuary cities” and said those “that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities will not receive taxpayer dollars.” He blamed such policies for “so many needless deaths.”
Trump didn’t elaborate further on his plans for cracking down on the cities. And in a “60 Minutes” interview broadcast Sunday he said his administration’s immediate priority will be on deporting criminals and securing the border.
“Public safety must be our top concern,” Buchanan said in calling for passage of two bills — “Kate’s Law” and the “Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act” which would cut federal funding to any city that refuses to enforce immigration laws. “Kate’s Law” would toughen penalties against anyone who re-enters the country after being deported.
Kate Steinle was murdered in San Francisco by an undocumented immigrant in 2015 who had been deported five times and was convicted of seven felonies.
The “Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act” strips federal funding from communities that prohibit law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal immigration officers. Buchanan’s office says 10 of the largest sanctuary jurisdictions in the U.S. received $700 million in block grants in 2016 alone.
25 comments
Anthony Gravano
November 16, 2016 at 3:03 pm
I’m extremely pro immigration, and kind of tired of immigrants being conflated with illegal free loaders.
Dwayne
November 16, 2016 at 7:07 pm
Legal immigrants, fine. Illegal need to go. BIG difference.
William Gazelle
November 17, 2016 at 12:36 pm
Exactly right if a person comes here legal and respect our laws and customs are welcome those who dont need to go. And laws need to be enforced at federal, state, county, and city levels no exceptions. If they are not why do we have any laws at all
Dave
November 17, 2016 at 1:00 am
Agreed! Those who choose to migrate to the United States legally, I have absolutely no problem with. Choose to do it illegally, deal with the consequences!! If you’re already here illegally, either make it right, or go back to where you came from!!! It’s absolutely ridiculous that this country is paying illegall immigrants welfare while American citizens are going hungry in the streets, “especially veterans who’ve fought for our freedom!” #Doitright #Ordon’tdoitatall!!
Bill
November 17, 2016 at 1:11 pm
Dave, the ones that are already here and have jobs and are paying taxesdon’t hve the option to stay here and “make it right” In the past they were offered amnesty if hey wanted to stay and work and pay taxes; but Trump will not allow them that option any longer. These mayors are protesting because they do not want to see these families torn apart
Mike Wensel
November 18, 2016 at 1:10 pm
There’s that, but it’s more likely they don’t want to see their city brought to its knees when all of their undocumented, illegal workers are deported and there’s no one to fill the jobs they are performing. Most construction industries and service industries will suffer greatly. This is what those mayors are protecting more than anything; the void that will remain when illegals are not doing those jobs.
Carla
November 20, 2016 at 3:34 am
They came here illegally.
We have laws that should be enforced. I am all for immigrants that come here with respect for our country’s rules.
When my ancestors immigrated to America they had to be sponsored, have a place to live, get a job & speak English, the wanted to be American & assimilate into our culture. Look what’s happened in Europe. No we don’t need illegals to do the work legal immigrants will do, that argument doesn’t excuse breaking the law. They have be deported.
Desert Girl
November 17, 2016 at 3:53 am
You and me both. Legal immigrants and illegal aliens are two entirely different groups.
Mary Stanton
November 17, 2016 at 6:02 pm
Well first off all the new Muslims brought into Missouri this past year and are getting 1800 in cash benifit said and hundreds more in food stamps for an unspecified amount of time. Now I promise you this if I got gov assistance I wouldn’t get anything remotely to that amount. So if I work and loose my job the gov will help me short term with a hell of a lot of strings attache however the refugees don’t. Which is paid by us the tax payers. But yet they havnt paid one dime in taxes ever and are in titled to more than me a tax payer. Now how the he’ll isn’t that free loading?
Maggy
November 18, 2016 at 12:15 pm
Sanctuary cities do NOT create a place for legal immigration.
JP
November 16, 2016 at 6:51 pm
Hello all:
Mexico’s Immigration Policy which the media NEVER mentions – on how Mexico protects its border.
We need to remind the Mexican President and the world for that matter how restrictive other nations immigration policies are…….
It seems not to be racist when the Mexican government enforces their immigration laws.
It is an interesting law — and one that should cause us all to ask:
WHY is our southern neighbor pushing us to water down our own immigration laws and policies……….when its own immigration restrictions are the toughest on the continent?
Under Mexican law, it is a felony to be an illegal alien in Mexico.
Mexico has a single, streamlined law that ensures that foreign visitors and immigrants are:
in the country legally;
have the means to sustain themselves economically;
not destined to be burdens on society;
of economic and social benefit to society;
of good character and have no criminal records;
and
contributors to the general well-being of the nation.
The law also ensures that:
immigration authorities have a record of each foreign visitor;
foreign visitors do not violate their visa status;
(VERY IMPORTANT)
foreign visitors are banned from interfering in the country’s internal politics;
foreign visitors who enter under false pretenses are imprisoned or deported;
foreign visitors violating the terms of their entry are imprisoned or deported;
those who aid in illegal immigration will be sent to prison.
If a felony is a
crime punishable by more than one year in prison, then Mexican law makes it a felony to be an illegal alien in Mexico.
PS: Under pressure from the UN, the Mexican government has changed the charge of illegal immigration from a felony to a misdemeanor BUT the Mexican courts are still enforcing it like it was a felony
Sid
November 16, 2016 at 6:55 pm
So protect and serve is out the window? Are you going to use military forces?
Gene
November 16, 2016 at 8:01 pm
Good, they don’t need tax payers funding illegal immigrant
J Turner
November 16, 2016 at 8:36 pm
This is a sticky widget! But PRESIDENT elect Trump didn’t write the immigration laws we have…he just wants then to be enforced. He’s also stated that after the border is secure and the gang members and criminals are removed they will revisit the issue of the “dreamers” and those that are good, upstanding people and determine how best to proceed. I believe he will proceed in an extremely humane fashion.
linda dempster r
November 16, 2016 at 9:43 pm
maybe Trump can do what no other has -we all need to help find them illegails-we need to work–
Randall Robertson
November 17, 2016 at 6:55 am
Most Immigrants are good hard Working People who just want a better Life and Education for their Families.. But Illegal Immigrants give the good People a Bad Name..
Colleen
November 17, 2016 at 8:23 am
Personally I’m tired of paying for people to be here illegally. We the people of the IS work our asses off while they draw welfare and whatever they can. Before I would live in a sanctuary state I would move. Why can’t they come legally like the way our country is suppose to be?
Bill
November 17, 2016 at 1:04 pm
“De Blasio and Emuanel gave similiar statements” but we won’t publish them because they were legitimate logical statements that made sense.
Margaret Stewart
November 17, 2016 at 7:30 pm
Well, is it a function of local government to do the work of Federal Agencies? As for not getting taxpayer dollars, they aren’t getting any of Trump’s because he doesn’t pay taxes. Why do I have to?
Mike Wensel
November 18, 2016 at 2:07 pm
It is the function of local law enforcement to notify federal agencies when they become aware of individuals they come into contact with that have violated our national policies and hold and hand off perpetrators to federal agents. It is against the law to enter this country without following our well defined protocol. It’s also against the law to harbor criminals. In this case as in all others, two wrongs don’t make a right. Also, what do you know about Donald Trump’s tax filings? No one should be made to show their tax filings if they don’t want to. No one can make you show yours. It’s still very much a private thing. I’m sure Donald pays his fair share of taxes, otherwise the IRS would be after him.
Janice Marler
November 18, 2016 at 12:53 am
Why are we harboring criminal/ I don’t understand.
Mike Wensel
November 18, 2016 at 2:14 pm
That’s a very good question, and one those mayors should be made to answer. If they are giving their law enforcement agencies orders to not cooperate with federal agencies and not notify INS of their contact with illegal aliens, they are harboring criminals and breaking the law. Something is wrong with sympathizers of criminals. They are protecting the wrong people and should be removed from office. They need to uphold the law.
David Charles
November 18, 2016 at 10:36 am
I have an easier fix. Give sanctuary cities who are violated existing federal law three days to cease and comply. For the ones who don’t, send in federal officers to arrest the mayor, the whole city council, and the police chief for violating the law, Deny them bail and charge them that will send them to jail for 10 years. Their replacements will comply.
James Merett
November 19, 2016 at 10:38 am
We are soon to have federal tax money that will be spent to pray away the gay. I don’t blame the states and cities from not doing the feds job on immigration
Comments are closed.