American Elephants

According to Breitbart, sanctuary policies across the country have meant that 8,145 criminal immigrants that Immigration and Customs sought to deport have been released by sanctuary cities and counties.

The Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) released a report in the wake of the murder of Kathryn Steinle. CIS’ report revealed that 63 percent of the 8,145 released criminal immigrants in 276 jurisdictions from January 1, 2014 to August 31, 2014 had “serious prior criminal criminal records, and one fourth had a prior felony charge or conviction.”

As of last month, the total number of those ordered detained which sanctuary jurisdictions did not honor grew to more than 17,000.

In most cases the Sanctuary designation was ordered by a local police or sheriff’s jurisdiction, here in Washington and Oregon, where there seem to be lots of sanctuaries.  In California the designation was more often by cities or counties. Just why these jurisdictions choose to fail to follow federal law is unclear. Probably it is because they do not have the facilities or funds to hold criminal immigrants for ICE. Some examples cited by Jessica Vaughan who wrote the CIS report were appalling.

–Los Angeles, Calif.: On April 6, 2014, an alien was arrested for “felony continuous sexual abuse of a child”. After release, the alien was arrested for “felony sodomy of a victim under 10 years old”.

–San Mateo County, Calif.: On February 16, 2014, an individual was arrested for “felony lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14″. In addition, the alien had a prior DUI conviction. Following release by the local agency, the individual was arrested for three counts of “felony oral copulation with a victim under 10″ and two counts of “felony lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14”.

–Miami Beach, Fla.: On December 19, 2013, the police department arrested an alien for felony grand theft. This alien had been ordered removed (and presumably absconded) in 2009. The alien also had prior convictions for strong-arm robbery, cocaine possession, larceny, trespassing, theft, marijuana possession, and resisting an officer. After release by the local agency, the alien was arrested on two separate occasions; once for “aggravated assault with a weapon and larceny” and once for “under the influence of a controlled substance”.

I don’t understand why any jurisdiction would want to declare itself a “sanctuary” where felons can go to be free of the fear of being turned over to the federal department charged with deporting criminals.

There is a movement in Congress in response to the Steinle murder to deprive any jurisdiction calling itself a “sanctuary,” and failing to obey federal law of any and all federal funds. We’ll see.