Thread: Newsom Says Underage IA Criminals Are Courts Problem

Do you believe this guy and he wants to governor?


Newsom says underage illegal immigrant criminals are courts' problem

Marisa Lagos,Jaxon Van Derbeken, Chronicle Staff Writers

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Allen A. Nance, assistant chief probation officer, left, ... Mayor Gavin Newsom took questions from the media at a pre...

(07-01) 16:14 PDT SAN FRANCISCO -- With his handpicked juvenile probation chief at his side, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom said today that he is powerless to order that the city turn over underage illegal immigrant criminals to federal officials for deportation.

Instead, Newsom said at a City Hall news conference, the question of what to do with illegal immigrant minors who deal drugs and commit other crimes is one for juvenile court judges, the district attorney and public defender to sort out.

<< Related story: Feds probe S.F.'s immigrant shield >>

"I don't have the authority here," Newsom said as he stood beside Juvenile Probation Director William Siffermann. "I have a bully pulpit. The courts have the authority here."

Newsom's comments, his first since The Chronicle reported this week that the city was shielding underage illegal immigrant drug dealers from deportation, put him at odds with the head of the city's juvenile courts. She has said that judges were simply approving recommendations from juvenile probation officials.

The Chronicle revealed that the city had been flying Honduran juvenile drug dealers to their homeland, from which they were free to return, until the federal government demanded that officials halt the practice. The city then sent eight illegal immigrants convicted of dealing crack to a group home for juveniles in San Bernardino County, where all escaped within days.

"The question you need to ask is why the courts, the DA and the public defender are directing (the Juvenile Probation Department) to do that," Newsom said.

Siffermann said he is trying to balance federal law with San Francisco's 1989 proclamation of itself as a sanctuary city, a status that has led city officials to refuse to cooperate with federal agents in deporting immigrants.

"The chief doesn't do it on his own," Newsom said. "He is told by the courts to do this. ... The DA and judges and public defender all tell chief Siffermann what to do."

Siffermann, who was appointed by Newsom to run the Juvenile Probation Department in 2005, insisted at today's news conference that his agency simply made recommendations to juvenile court judges about what should be done with underage illegal immigrants convicted of drug dealing.

However, Judge Donna Hitchens, who oversees the city's Juvenile Court, told The Chronicle last week that the original idea for flying illegal immigrant youths home had been advanced by juvenile probation officials. She said it was up to Siffermann's agency, not judges, to work out differences with the federal government.

Hitchens was on vacation today and was not immediately available to comment on the mayor's remarks.

City Attorney Dennis Herrera issued an opinion this afternoon saying that although there is nothing in the sanctuary-city law that prevents San Francisco officials from alerting the federal government when a juvenile illegal immigrant is arrested, there is also nothing in federal law that requires them to do so.

San Francisco police say they have been arresting young illegal immigrants from Honduras for several years after catching them selling crack cocaine and other drugs in the Mission and Tenderloin. Until May, the city was quietly sending the offenders back home to Honduras rather than turning them over to federal authorities for possible deportation.

The federal government pointed out that deportation barred illegal immigrants from ever returning and that helping such immigrants to cross the border was a violation of U.S. law.

Siffermann agreed to halt the flights, but said that in the wake of the recent escapes from San Bernardino County, the city was "running out of options" for dealing with the youths.

Newsom said of the flights, "I don't believe it's an appropriate practice and we rightly ended it. Period. ... I don't think (the courts) should continue this practice ... and I have told them that."

The mayor did not say what he thought should be done with the underage illegal immigrants who commit crimes.

The Juvenile Probation Department does not answer to the courts, but to a city-appointed commission whose president, Lidia Stiglich, said Monday that she was in talks with Newsom's office about what to do next. Like the panel's other six members, Stiglich was appointed to the commission by Newsom.

Patricia Lee, head of the juvenile branch of the public defender's office, said the city's refusal to turn over underage offenders to federal authorities was appropriate because many of the Honduran juveniles are being exploited by drug traffickers as "mules."

District Attorney Kamala Harris' office has not responded to repeated requests for comment on the matter. Newsom suggested that prosecutors were parties to the deals that allowed for the flights. It is unclear whether prosecutors objected to the flights; juvenile sentences are handed down in closed courtrooms.

The city estimates there are 22 illegal immigrants being housed at juvenile hall. Siffermann said today that offenders will be handled on a case-by-case basis, but did not elaborate.

One possibility is that the Juvenile Probation Department will make no recommendation on how a judge should handle a case and leave the decision up to the courts. Under state law, however, the department is supposed to provide such a recommendation.

E-mail the writers at mlagos@sfchronicle.com and jvanderbeken@sfchronicle.com.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f ... 11I71H.DTL

i wonder if the idiots in SF care that their tax money is being spent in part to send these illegals back home on the airplane

Not to mention it cost $7k each for them to go to San Bernadino Juvenile House.

Newsome just announced today that he's forming an exploratory committee to run for Governor! His opponent will most likely be Villaraigosa! Unbelievable!

Patricia Lee, head of the juvenile branch of the public defender's office, said the city's refusal to turn over underage offenders to federal authorities was appropriate because many of the Honduran juveniles are being exploited by drug traffickers as "mules."

WTF? They're "exploited" by drug traffickers, so SF sends them BACK to bring in MORE drugs?!?!? WOW, what insane logic!

Originally Posted by AmericanMe

The U.S. Attorney for No. CA was just on Hannity and Colmes. He said that Newsome stopped flying them back to Honduras around June 1, after Newsome was warned that they could not protect them under the sanctuary city shield. Newsome stopped sending them to Honduras, but started sending them TO A RANCH IN SAN BERNARDINO!!! They are now running free and probably setting up their drug business again!

he was also on glenn beck's show in the opening segment

San Francisco mayor opens bid for 2010 governor's race

By Kevin Yamamura and Shane Goldmacher - kyamamura@sacbee.com
Published 6:42 pm PDT Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Print | E-Mail | Comments (6)|

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, a Democrat best known for his aggressive support of same-sex marriage, launched an exploratory committee Tuesday to consider a 2010 run for governor.

Newsom, 40, became the first Democrat to take formal steps toward replacing Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"He's taking the steps to put together the type of operation that can analyze the race in 2010 and make an informed decision," said Newsom consultant Eric Jaye.

Newsom's exploratory bid is an effort to get ahead of what could become a crowded Democratic field in 2010. He can use the committee to solicit donations in $24,100 increments, building a war chest 23 months before the Democratic primary for governor.

His timing - opening an account on July 1 -- means he will not have to reveal how much money he has raised for more than six months, until early 2009.

Attorney General Jerry Brown has intimated that he, too, will jump into the race. He reported raising more than $200,000 in June in his reelection account. He recently renamed the account from "Jerry Brown for Attorney General" to "Jerry Brown 2010."

"I don't do too much these days except sue people," he said in a March speech at the state Democratic convention. "But someday maybe I'll get around to doing more than that, and hopefully you'll help."

Lt. Gov John Garamendi has all but said he is running and 2006 candidate and former state Controller Steve Westly and state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell are expected to seriously consider the race.

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer is sitting on a $10 million campaign account, while Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is a widely discussed candidate, though he first must win reelection in 2009.
On the Republican side, first-term Insurance Commissioner Steve Poizner is widely expected to run. Meg Whitman, the former eBay CEO and adviser to Sen. John McCain, is also considering a run.

Newsom is best known statewide -- and nationally -- for his decision is 2004 to allow the city of San Francisco to perform gay marriage. The California Supreme Court ruled the California law banning gay marriage was unconstitutional this May.

Newsom - who was resoundingly reelected in 2007 with only token opposition - has not sailed through this tenure as San Francisco mayor.

Early in 2007, he confessed to having an affair with the wife of his deputy chief of staff. A week later, Newsom admitted a drinking problem and sought treatment, while maintaining his duties as mayor.

http://www.sacbee.com/749/story/1054485.html

One more thing...Newsome was married and divorced from Fox News anchor, Kimberly Newsome Guilfoyle....hmmmm!!!!

Originally Posted by AmericanMe

One more thing...Newsome was married and divorced from Fox News anchor, Kimberly Newsome Guilfoyle....hmmmm!!!!

damn who would cheat on her, shes gorgeous

Wow... a whole lotta buck passin' goin' on! Let's see if we can't untangle this... Mayor sez it's up to the judges, DA and PD. Judges say their just approving recommendations from probation dept. Sifferman sez he's a patsy and just doing what the courts tell him to. Probation department - that does NOT answer to the courts - answers to a 7-member commission - all appointed by Newsom. PD sez letting loose drug dealers is appropriate. D.A.'s office sez... nothing.

The real questions seem to be 1). who exactly came up with this stupid idea in the first place and why do they still have a job? My guess is it was a joint decision by the PD (whose job it is to support criminals) and the DA (whom supporting criminals is not her job but she seems very good at it anyway). 2). Is the mayor lying? He hired these bozos... he can fire them. 3). Do any of those involved even UNDERSTAND why people are upset about this???