Thread: Closing The Sanctuary

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/n ... 77,00.html

Rosen: Closing the sanctuary
May 20, 2005

Raul Garcia-Gomez might do for the cause of immigration reform what Ward Churchill has done for reform of leftist domination in academia. The alleged cop killer - Garcia-Gomez that is, not Churchill - has focused the spotlight on governmental and business laxity and duplicity in regard to immigration policy and enforcement.

Denver cops are understandably grieving, angry and frustrated right now. I join them in mourning the loss of Detective Donald Young. The police are not to blame for crimes committed by illegal immigrants in our city. That's a political failure shared by federal and local governments. The Denver Police Department doesn't set policy; it follows it.

The question has been raised as to whether Denver is a so-called "sanctuary city." That's more a term of art than law. It's not as if there's a neon sign on the City and County Building officially declaring it. There's no city ordinance codifying it.

The practical definition of a sanctuary city is one that accommodates illegal immigrants, making it easier for them to move freely in the community, conduct commerce, and exploit government services while discouraging the police from proactively identifying them and informing federal authorities so that they may be prosecuted and deported. In that regard, Denver is no doubt perceived in the illegal alien community as a friendly venue. While Executive Orders 116 and 119, issued by then-Mayor Wellington Webb, do not prohibit cooperation between Denver authorities and federal immigration agents, they don't encourage it either. And the tone is decidedly deferential to "foreign nationals." For the most part, this means Mexicans. The orders touch all the PC bases: expressing respect for "diversity," intolerance toward discrimination and a commitment to "the delivery of services to all (Denver) residents." Since the courts have ruled that illegal residents also have a claim on government services like education and medical care, that would include them, too. Executive Order 119 declared that the city would accept matricula consular cards issued by the Mexican consulate as official identification. The consulate notoriously issues these cards with little scrutiny to illegals with fraudulent identities.

These executive orders didn't fall out of the sky. Webb was appeasing Latino special interests, many of whom hold their first loyalty to their countrymen, legal or illegal, not to the best economic and security interests of the United States. Of course, Denver Latinos are not monolithic. Some, who have been here for generations, are opposed to open borders and unlimited immigration from Latin America. Others, who waited their turn to enter this country legally and have become American citizens, resent those who have broken the rules.

In fairness to Mayor John Hickenlooper, he didn't initiate these policies; he inherited them. And while he had the bad fortune to be an owner of the Cherry Cricket while Garcia-Gomez was employed there, he wasn't actively managing the restaurant at the time.

But like other restaurateurs, construction companies and agricultural employers, Hickenlooper winked at the practice of hiring illegals. The way the game is played, you accept fraudulent documents - how are you to know they're fraudulent? - and wait a year or so for the Social Security Administration to notify you that the Social Security number might be invalid. Even then, firing the man might be illegal discrimination, so you tell him to contact Social Security and see what the problem is. Right.

It's now Mayor Hick's watch. Denver can be less friendly and accommodating to illegal aliens. He can change city policy to instruct the police department to actively cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. For that to be effective, the federal government must get serious about enforcing our immigration laws.

Some illegals may be coming here for government handouts, but most are coming for jobs. We need to close the employer loophole. If there are no jobs for illegals at the end of the pipeline, most will stop coming. A government Web site is available to quickly verify a Social Security number. Employers should be required to do that before hiring. The current system makes it too easy for employers to reap a false economy by hiring illegals while passing on the hidden costs - economic and security - to the rest of society.

Ultimately, we need a high-tech national ID card to verify legal status. I'm not opposed to that in principle, and I don't fear it will lead to the Gestapo demanding that innocent citizens show "your papers." We already have a low-tech national ID card: your driver's license. But it's inadequate to the identity problems of the 21st century.

Mike Rosen's radio show airs daily from 9 a.m. to noon on 850 KOA.

Originally Posted by butterbean

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/news_columnists/article/0,1299,DRMN_86_3791777,00.html

Raul Garcia-Gomez might do for the cause of immigration reform what Ward Churchill has done for reform of leftist domination in academia. The alleged cop killer - Garcia-Gomez that is, not Churchill - has focused the spotlight on governmental and business laxity and duplicity in regard to immigration policy and enforcement.

It sad that this detective had to be killed in order for Denver to wake up.
Denver cops are understandably grieving, angry and frustrated right now. I join them in mourning the loss of Detective Donald Young. The police are not to blame for crimes committed by illegal immigrants in our city. That's a political failure shared by federal and local governments. The Denver Police Department doesn't set policy; it follows it.

A political failure of monumental proportions. Some heads should roll, right down the highest point of the Rockies

The practical definition of a sanctuary city is one that accommodates illegal immigrants, making it easier for them to move freely in the community, conduct commerce, and exploit government services while discouraging the police from proactively identifying them and informing federal authorities so that they may be prosecuted and deported. In that regard, Denver is no doubt perceived in the illegal alien community as a friendly venue. While Executive Orders 116 and 119, issued by then-Mayor Wellington Webb, do not prohibit cooperation between Denver authorities and federal immigration agents, they don't encourage it either. And the tone is decidedly deferential to "foreign nationals." For the most part, this means Mexicans. The orders touch all the PC bases: expressing respect for "diversity," intolerance toward discrimination and a commitment to "the delivery of services to all (Denver) residents." Since the courts have ruled that illegal residents also have a claim on government services like education and medical care, that would include them, too. Executive Order 119 declared that the city would accept matricula consular cards issued by the Mexican consulate as official identification. The consulate notoriously issues these cards with little scrutiny to illegals with fraudulent identities.

Wellington Webb should be prosecuted for this stupid policy. His "place in history" is sick, perverse, and stupid
These executive orders didn't fall out of the sky. Webb was appeasing Latino special interests, many of whom hold their first loyalty to their countrymen, legal or illegal, not to the best economic and security interests of the United States. Of course, Denver Latinos are not monolithic. Some, who have been here for generations, are opposed to open borders and unlimited immigration from Latin America. Others, who waited their turn to enter this country legally and have become American citizens, resent those who have broken the rules.

In fairness to Mayor John Hickenlooper, he didn't initiate these policies; he inherited them. And while he had the bad fortune to be an owner of the Cherry Cricket while Garcia-Gomez was employed there, he wasn't actively managing the restaurant at the time.

So what he didn't initiate these policies, for keeping them he should be indicted as a co-conspirator in this officer death
But like other restaurateurs, construction companies and agricultural employers, Hickenlooper winked at the practice of hiring illegals. The way the game is played, you accept fraudulent documents - how are you to know they're fraudulent? - and wait a year or so for the Social Security Administration to notify you that the Social Security number might be invalid. Even then, firing the man might be illegal discrimination, so you tell him to contact Social Security and see what the problem is. Right.

It's now Mayor Hick's watch. Denver can be less friendly and accommodating to illegal aliens. He can change city policy to instruct the police department to actively cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents. For that to be effective, the federal government must get serious about enforcing our immigration laws.

Some illegals may be coming here for government handouts, but most are coming for jobs. We need to close the employer loophole. If there are no jobs for illegals at the end of the pipeline, most will stop coming. A government Web site is available to quickly verify a Social Security number. Employers should be required to do that before hiring. The current system makes it too easy for employers to reap a false economy by hiring illegals while passing on the hidden costs - economic and security - to the rest of society.
Put ONE employer in PRISON, and this will stop almost overnight. One federal prosecutor, one case.
Ultimately, we need a high-tech national ID card to verify legal status. I'm not opposed to that in principle, and I don't fear it will lead to the Gestapo demanding that innocent citizens show "your papers." We already have a low-tech national ID card: your driver's license. But it's inadequate to the identity problems of the 21st century.
Whatever it takes, and I do mean WHATEVER IT TAKES!!!
Mike Rosen's radio show airs daily from 9 a.m. to noon on 850 KOA.