Sanctuary cities: controversial since the 1980s

            Sanctuary city policies in the U.S. have a storied history that dates back to the 1980s, when American churches pioneered a sanctuary movement. Churches that participated in that movement hoped to offer sanctuary to Central American immigrants who were fleeing civil war in their home countries and entering the U.S. illegally.  Sanctuary cities emerged in cities where these churches were active, and roughly thirty sanctuary cities exist in the U.S. today. According to a Congressional Research Service (CRS) report, those cities are:

Anchorage, AK, Fairbanks, AK, Chandler, AZ, Fresno, CA, Los Angeles, CA, San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Sonoma County, CA, Evanston, IL, Cicero, IL, Cambridge, MA, Orleans, MA, Portland, ME, Baltimore, MD, Takoma Park, MD, Ann Arbor, MI, Detroit, MI, Minneapolis, MN, Durham, NC, Albuquerque, NM, Aztec, NM, Rio Arriba, County, NM, Sante Fe, NM, New York, NY, Ashland, OR, Gaston, OR, Marion County, OR, Austin, TX, Houston, TX, Katy, TX, Seattle, WA, and Madison, WI.

Though slightly outdated, the below map from the National Immigration 

Law Center depicts most of the U.S. sanctuary cities. 

            Sanctuary city proponents claim that enforcing immigration laws is a responsibility that the federal government – not local or state governments – should bear. Ironically, the federal government has sent mixed messages on illegal immigration and sanctuary cities since those issues first rose to national prominence. On one hand, sanctuary cities’ ability to aid immigrants was strengthened in 1982 in Plyler vs. Doe. The Supreme Court used that case to declare that children born to illegal immigrants have a constitutional right to access public education.

On the other hand, the federal government has historically argued that sanctuary city policies are at odds with national security policies. In 2007, the Washington Times reported that Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said, “his agency will not tolerate interference by so-called “sanctuary cities” when it comes to hiring illegal aliens.” At the time, Chertoff was defending his agency’s enforcement of a Basic Pilot Program that required employers to verify new employees’ legal status before hiring them.  Furthermore, the U.S. House of Representatives has debated several bills over the past decade that have threatened to deny federal funding to cities with sanctuary city policies.

In the Texas legislature, the state's main sanctuary city bill (HB 12) remains before the State Affairs committee. Of all the legislation declared to be emergency issues by Governor Perry, the sanctuary city bill is the only emergency issue that has not yet made it to the House floor. With only six weeks left in the regular legislative session, time is running short. See below for a sample of testimony before the House State Affairs Committee.

By Kimberly Dena

Immigration reform bills could change a few things

In wake of the recent protests in over the several anti illegal immigration bills being introduced in Austin, there is one bill that certainly stands out among the rest, House Bill 2012. This bill, proposed by Republican state Rep. Debbie Riddle, would create tough state punishments for those who "intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly" hire an unauthorized immigrant. Violators could face up to two years in jail and a fine of up to $10,000, as reported in Mariano Castillo's CNN article this afternoon. 


Perhaps the most controversial side of the bill is the clause that allows illegal immigrants to be hired as maids, lawn caretakers, or other housework-related jobs. This is interesting because of how many Texans hire illegal immigrants to do these types of jobs. Texas state Rep. Aaron Pena, a Democrat, offered a very truthful statement regarding the issue. "With things as they are today, her bill will see a large segment of the Texas population in prison" if it passes without the exception, he said. "When it comes to household employees or yard workers, it is extremely common for Texans to hire people who are likely undocumented workers," Pena said. "It is so common, it is overlooked."


Riddle's chief of staff clarified that the bill is targeted more towards the big businesses. "Texans shouldn't be punished for hiring lawn care companies who hire unauthorized immigrants," he said, in an interview with the Texas Tribune.


Look for this bill to be one of the more "talked-about" bills of this legislation because of its relevancy to Texans in particular. 


Source: http://www.cnn.com/2011/POLITICS/03/01/texas.immigration.bill/ 




- Matt Looney

Sanctuary cities may cost lives

Houston police officer Officer Rodney Johnson once saved several children who were trapped in a burning building. On September 21, 2006, Johnson’s five children were left fatherless after an illegal immigrant gunned down Johnson during a routine traffic stop. A twelve-year veteran of the Houston police force, Johnson’s life was one dedicated to service and to family.

The photo tribute below showcases the impact of Johnson’s death.

Johnson isn’t the only decorated Houston police officer whose life has been cut short or endangered by violent acts perpetrated by illegal immigrants. More recently, Officer Nash Patel was seriously injured  during a raid on an illegal immigrant drug dealer. Like Johnson, Patel had demonstrated extraordinary bravery during his long tenure with the Houston Police Department.

Some Texas politicians allege that Houston should be considered a sanctuary city because law enforcement officers are not allowed to ask suspects questions related to their immigration statuses. The result? Criminal suspects who immigrate illegally to the U.S and who should be subject to deportation often slip through law enforcement’s grasp and remain stateside, at great risk to the communities in which they live.

Pictured above: the scene of Officer Patel's shooting.

Johnson’s killer and Patel’s assailant both had prior run-ins with the law. Yet, both managed to re-enter and remain in the U.S. undetected. Houston Police Chief Harold Hurtt described the illegal immigrant who killed Johnson by saying, “The subject was deported, and yet he came back, so if the government fulfilled their responsibility of protecting the border we would probably not be standing here today.”

Certainly, police officers take necessary risks every day in the course of their work. Likewise, not all illegal immigrants commit acts of violence. However, these stories illustrate the price that cities sometimes pay when they become lax in enforcing federal immigration laws. These are also the stories that Texas advocates for stricter laws against illegal immigration, including sanctuary cities, use to garner support for their legislation.

The proposals currently before the legislature typically fall into two categories:

•       Amending current laws to ensure cities cannot have policies that prevent officials from upholding either state or federal drug laws
•       Passing new laws under which cities cannot explicitly oppose state or federal immigration laws.

Senate Bill 11 and correlating House Bill 12 are two of the most prominent anti-sanctuary cities being considered this session. SB 11 is before the Senate Transportation and Homeland Security Committee, and HB 12 has moved to the State Affairs committee. A public hearing for HB 12 is scheduled for March 22.

It is still too early to predict the chance that these bills will pass in this session. One thing we do know is that legislators will likely find themselves caught in the crossfire between Hispanic constituencies who oppose such measures and mounting public support for tougher immigration laws among other constituencies.

- By Kimberly Dena

Immigration reform to be a hot-button issue

Sanctuary. A haven. A peaceful place of rest.  Ironic, then, that the prospect of so-called "sanctuary cities" has unleashed a torrent of controversy across the nation and, most recently, in the state of Texas. A polarizing, politically-loaded topic, sanctuary cities refer to cities and towns that maintain policies that prohibit local law enforcement from upholding immigration laws and from cooperating with immigration authorities on the federal level.

An article by the Texas Tribune reported that Gov. Rick Perry has listed sanctuary cities among the emergency items that he is asking the Texas Legislature to consider during this session.  

Listen to Perry discuss views on sanctuary cities below.

According to an article by the New York State Immigrant Action Fund, the legislature’s hands are tied during the first 60 days of a legislative session since the legislature cannot debate bills during that period unless Perry authorizes them to do so by declaring certain issues to be emergencies. This move enables Perry to partially fulfill a campaign promise he made to address the issue during his race against Bill White for the governorship when Perry criticized White for making Houston, according to Perry, a sanctuary city.

While many experts believe that Texas will stop short of authorizing the extensive immigration crackdowns that garnered so much criticism in Arizona, immigration reforms will likely be a contentious issue during this Texas legislative session. A summary of the bills already filed can be found here.

- Kimberly Dena