Thread: NYC slams House anti-sanctuary provision

http://www.upi.com/SecurityTerrorism/vi ... 5150-8586r

NYC slams House anti-sanctuary provision
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 (UPI) -- New York City's top counter-terrorism official has slammed legislation that would block homeland security cash for states with sanctuary policies.

Richard Falkenrath, the deputy commissioner for counter-terrorism of the New York Police Department, told lawmakers Tuesday that the issue was "very divisive."

Sanctuary policies -- followed in many large cities and other diverse jurisdictions -- effectively ban state or local cops from questioning people about their immigration status. Supporters say that enforcing immigration law is a federal job and that to effectively police local ethnic communities -- especially Hispanic ones -- it is essential that people whose immigration status might be ambiguous or illegal are not deterred from coming forward if they are witnesses to or victims of a crime.

Opponents say that state and local police are an essential "force multiplier" for efforts to enforce immigration law and that sanctuary policies effectively encourage illegal immigration.

Legislation pending in the House would ban the distribution of federal homeland security grants to any jurisdictions with such policies.

"If the House bill became law," Falkenrath told a Senate panel, "by definition we would get no money. This would be a bad idea. It doesn't make any sense to hold the city hostage to a country's ongoing dispute about immigration."

Can anyone quickly identify the particular section of the House bill that specifies this?

"If the House bill became law," Falkenrath told a Senate panel, "by definition we would get no money. This would be a bad idea. It doesn't make any sense to hold the city hostage to a country's ongoing dispute about immigration."

It's called "turning the screws" Mr. Falkenrath. Trust me, President Bush and Congress have perfected the art of "turning the screws" on the American public. In this case though, I think it is well deserved. NYC needs to get with the program and Mayor Bloomberg needs to give up his position of leadership in New York City and return to the business world to pad his millions already in his fat bank account. Mayor Bloomberg is a business elitist that has made no bones about his support of corporate America and the need for cheap labor!

Sanctuary policies -- followed in many large cities and other diverse jurisdictions -- effectively ban state or local cops from questioning people about their immigration status. Supporters say that enforcing immigration law is a federal job and that to effectively police local ethnic communities -- especially Hispanic ones -- it is essential that people whose immigration status might be ambiguous or illegal are not deterred from coming forward if they are witnesses to or victims of a crime.

Problem is even if they don't fear the police......they are still not forthcomming with information because they fear the backlash of the gangs, which are ever increasing in many cities.

"If the House bill became law," Falkenrath told a Senate panel, "by definition we would get no money. This would be a bad idea. It doesn't make any sense to hold the city hostage to a country's ongoing dispute about immigration."

Sorry NYC, you can't have it both ways. You can't encourage illegal immigration, then expect the taxpayers to subsidize your security.