As ICE prepares a major sweep to round up illegal immigrants in Northern California, local governments are instructing police not to provide any assistance. Oakland City Council went so far as to pass a resolution banning police from providing even traffic support for ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) operations; a new low for the longtime Sanctuary City.
In a state nearly overrun with illegal immigrants, costing taxpayers $30.29 billion per year, $4.4 billion just in crime, you’d think officials would welcome the support of ICE to help reduce the problem.
A Helping Hand
After state officials declared the region a sanctuary state – the first and only do so in the nation – ICE felt a need to step in and do something about the illegal immigration overpopulation. “If the politicians in California don’t want to protect their communities, then ICE will,” said Thomas Homan, acting director of the agency.
The left, however, considers the proposed immigration sweep an illegal act of discrimination. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi described the dragnet as “deeply shameful.” And state Senate President Pro Tem, Kevin de León, went so far as to accuse Trump of an attempt to “weaponize federal agencies against California.”
State Senators, Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris, sent a letter to Homan in protest. In it, they said ICE should be focusing on more critical crimes:
“Rather than focusing efforts on violent criminals, raids carried out in neighborhoods and workplaces could result in the deportation of individuals who are simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
The Wrong Place at Any Time
Let’s break that down a little. Individuals who were “in the wrong place at the wrong time,” the senators suggest. Well, of course they were. If they are being picked up and risk deportation, then they were in the nation illegally – hence the wrong place at any time. They will not be arrested simply for being in the area where the raids are conducted. To suggest otherwise is ludicrous.
Too many innocent Americans are being hurt and even killed by illegal immigrants. Remember the murder of Kathryn Steinle in 2015? The president is correct to crack down on illegal immigrants crossing the border and staying here years and even generations without bothering to become citizens. ICE is right to concentrate on areas like the Golden State because illegal felons have been given a reprieve – free to do what they wish without having to look over their shoulder for immigration patrols.
Why is it so difficult for the left to understand that illegal is illegal – no matter the nationality, religion or gender? Illegal immigrants should not be protected from being deported if they have made no efforts to become citizens. Illegal felons should not be protected from deportation at all.
The refusal of the Californian government to deal with this issue themselves, and to not provide even basic assistance to those trying to offer aid, is a disservice to the citizens. Both native-born and legal migrants are the victims in this. When the Democrats all but post a flashing neon sign inviting even more illegal migrants to come in, they put every single person in danger.
