(This post may contain disputed claims. We make no assertions as to the validity of the information presented by our Opinion Columnist. We are an opinion blog, not a traditional news outlet, and this post should be treated as such. Enjoy.)Sanctuary cities are being put on notice. Up until now, the Democratic-stronghold cities like San Francisco, New York City, and Los Angeles have enjoyed no backlash for upholding the lawless sanctuary policies which have resulted in the deaths of Americans like Kate Steinle. Well, that could all change. Here’s what we know.
Republican Senators Chuck Grassley, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham, Joni Ernst, and Marsha Blackburn have all signed onto a bill that gives compensation to victims of illegal alien crimes as a result of sanctuary city policies. Further, it blocks some grant funding.
This is really bad news for Nancy Pelosi and her far-leftist cohorts who run on these pro-illegal policies.
“The legislation creates a private right of civil action for the victims of sanctuary jurisdictions, allowing them to bring an action for compensatory damages against the sanctuary jurisdiction as a result of a violent crime committed by an illegal immigrant,” Grassley’s office says.
“Any sanctuary city or jurisdiction that refuses to waive its immunity as it relates to sanctuary-related civil action would be subject to the withholding of certain Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding,” they add.
They intend to withhold grant funding for jurisdictions that refuse to comply with lawful requests. This is a big deal which would block funds to those Democrat cities. You know how the Democrats love their taxpayer-funded grants.
According to the new bill, sanctuaries cities found in breach will result in the withholding of grants for public works, grants related to planning administrative expenses, and grants for training, research, and technical assistance.
GOP Senators introduce a bill that would allow victims of sanctuary city policies to sue the cities where the crimes occurred. pic.twitter.com/sd9P39imDb
— Fox & Friends First (@FoxFriendsFirst) July 10, 2019
Sanctuary laws tie the hands of the police. These laws were set in place to directly impede any contact from the police with ICE.
We all remember last December when the strict adherence to “sanctuary city” status caused the death of hero policeman Cpl. Ronil Singh. He was gunned down by a known gang member who was in the United States illegally. The killer’s very illegal status should have led to his removal by ICE before this senseless murder occurred.
In the case of gang member and accused killer Gustavo Arriaga, the police easily could have had ICE encounter him and remove him based on his previous arrests and warrants.
“Before California passed SB54, the sanctuary law, California police routinely worked with ICE, in fact working with ICE to remove numerous criminal gang members from the same area where Arriaga killed Officer Singh. Now, under pain of losing their jobs, police are forbidden to contact the very agency that can rid the gang menace from their city streets,” the Washington Examiner reports.
It’s not that the police officers who work in sanctuary cities believe illegal aliens should have a special status. It’s all politics. In fact, in Los Angeles County where we find the largest law enforcement agency in the country, the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department, the Sheriff is an elected official who is the highest-paid public official in the United States.
And he had to kowtow to the leftist sanctuary policy to be elected in the highly Democratic county.
Alex Villanueva, the new Los Angeles County Sheriff, promised to uphold sanctuary city laws in his jails during his election. Now, he is getting raked over the coals by the leftist media for handing over violent illegals to ICE.
The Los Angeles Times just published an article titled: “ICE still playing role in L.A. jails despite Sheriff Villanueva kicking agents out.” Villanueva knows that letting violent offenders back into the community results in crime and even murders like Kate Steinle.
“I know some people say we shouldn’t transfer any inmates from jail to ICE. Others say we should have an ICE agent in practically every jail cell. As L.A. County Sheriff, my priority is to ensure everyone’s public safety and to uphold the law,” Villanueva said in a statement. “We are protecting everyone, including undocumented persons, by not letting those violent criminals back into the community where they pose a threat.”
And he isn’t the only law enforcement official speaking out.
“In 2012, I served as an ICE supervisor in San Francisco,” wrote Jason Piccolo. “I volunteered to embed with a drug task force with the specific intent to determine how effectively ICE could work with police to remove criminal aliens. After 60 days and numerous contacts with police officers, there was overwhelming support from the police to work directly with ICE — no politics, just working together to make the streets safe from criminal aliens, especially known gang members operating unfettered.”
The majority of Americans do not support sanctuary city policies. In fact, 80 percent of voters polled in 2017 supported President Donald Trump who said “local authorities should have to comply with the law by reporting to federal agents the illegal immigrants they come into contact with,” The Hill reported.
Now, two years later and with countless crimes committed by illegals that affect everyday Americans, it’s time families are allowed to sue those sanctuary cities. It’s also time we abolish the lawless policy once and for all.
