A Lawless American Frontier Called the Sanctuary City


by James William Smith - Date: 2008-10-29 - Word Count: 774 Share This!

Nearly two decades ago, eighteen major American cities adopted the phrase "Sanctuary City" to be used in connection with illegal immigrants who reside within their jurisdiction. The term created a practice that did not allow municipal funds or resources to be used to enforce federal immigration laws. As a result, State police and municipal employees could not inquire about anyone's immigration status.Over the years, the concept of the Sanctuary City has spread to other cities throughout America. This dubious system of law enforcement has led to two governments in America, a federal government that was responsible, but often ineffective, in enforcing national immigration law and a local government that acted as a de facto sponsor for illegal immigration.This contradiction in the enforcement of immigration law, along with a lack of security along the United States border with Mexico, has led to the arrival of twelve million illegal immigrants who currently reside in United States cities.Meanwhile a lack of cooperation between the local and federal government on the issue of illegal immigration has created a standard of law enforcement for the illegal alien that is often far different than that imposed on the ordinary American citizen. Consider the following two examples of illegal immigration law enforcement and you will see why the Sanctuary City has become the new American lawless frontier.San Francisco is a city that has been a true sanctuary for illegal alien and convicted felon, Edwin Ramos. Ramos was found guilty of committing two felonies in San Francisco four years ago when he was a juvenile at the age of 17. His juvenile crimes included a gang-related assault and an attempted robbery of a pregnant woman. Unfortunately, these two felony convictions were just the beginning for Ramos. This is because San Francisco became a Sanctuary City in 1989 and its law prohibits officials from cooperating with federal officials in deporting illegal aliens.As a result, Ramos was not turned over by San Francisco juvenile justice officials to federal immigration authorities. So, the well-known convicted gang leader remained in the city after serving his time only to be arrested once again in early 2008 on weapons and gang related charges.Incredibly, two convicted felonies, a reputation as a well-known gang leader, and another arrest for weapons charges still did not get San Francisco to promptly report Ramos to federal immigration officials (ICE) for deportation. The sad fact is that he was released back onto the streets of San Francisco after being held for just two days.So, when Anthony Bologna and his two sons returned from a picnic on June 22, 2008, they were destined to become the victims of this lawless American frontier called the Sanctuary City. All three were gunned down with an AK-47 and brutally murdered in broad daylight. Edwin Ramos has been charged with the three slayings. It is still uncertain why Ramos committed the murders. It may have been road rage or it could have been a case of mistaken identity since he may have thought that Anthony Bologna was a member of a rival gang. Next, consider that Denver, Colorado is a city that officially and proudly promotes itself as a sanctuary for illegal aliens. The city has certainly lived up to that reputation in the case of illegal alien, Francis Hernandez. Hernandez was arrested sixteen times in five years in Colorado, but he was never reported to federal immigration officials or deported. His criminal charges included forgery, assault, theft, fraud, and driving under restraint. He has never held a driver's license.A few weeks ago, Hernandez was speeding in a Chevy Suburban and ran through a red light. His SUV hit a northbound white Mazda pickup and the impact of that terrible crash killed the two women in the truck and sent their vehicle cascading one hundred feet into the corner of a Baskin-Robbins in a Market Square shopping center, killing a three year old boy eating an ice cream cone. Hernandez fled the scene on foot, but was later captured and charged with his crime. Every day, a lack of Sanctuary City law enforcement protects the illegal immigrant, often at the expense of the American citizen. Local officials say that playing a role in immigration enforcement would create accusations of racial profiling and cause their departments to lose the trust of immigrant communities. It is thought that illegal immigrants would be reluctant to report crimes out of fear they will be deported.In the meantime, illegal immigrants are allowed sanctuary to murder, rape, and assault Americans. It is a perversity of this country's legal system which endangers every citizen who lives in the lawless American frontier known as the "Sanctuary City".


Related Tags: crime, america, politics, san francisco, illegal immigration, sanctuary city

James William Smith has worked in Senior management positions for some of the largest Financial Services firms in the United States for the last twenty five years. He has also provided business consulting support for insurance organizations and start up businesses. Visit his website at http://www.eWorldvu.com or his daily blog at http://www.eworldvublog.blogspot.com

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