Police Union: Stop Federal Funding For Sanctuary Cities

December 19, 2016 | by Robert Fowler

The national Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), the largest police union in the country, has called for the canceling of federal aid to sanctuary cities, or localities that refuse to cooperate with federal authorities to deport undocumented immigrants, among other priorities that they hope President-elect Donald Trump will enact.

The FOP has released a list of what it predicts Trump to accomplish within his first 100 days in office through executive orders. While the union noted that it was not advocating for the list, its leadership had endorsed Trump's candidacy in September, offering a symbolic rubber stamp on his presidential agenda, Mother Jones reports.

Among the list of priorities is the repeal of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which shields undocumented immigrants raised in the United States since childhood from deportation, and the canceling of federal aid to what are described as sanctuary cities.

The Center for Immigration Studies estimates that over 300 U.S. cities can be deemed sanctuary cities, with local officials refusing to cooperate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in locating and deporting undocumented immigrants, according to The Washington Times.

The FOP's listing of suspending federal aid to sanctuary cities contradicts its stance on the issue mere weeks ago. On Nov. 22, Executive Director James Pasco of the FOP voiced concern over a Trump administration cutting off federal funding to cities that do not cooperate with ICE, citing worries that this would only weaken local law enforcement.

"We do not support the withholding of public safety funds as a hammer," Pasco said. The executive director added: "You can't hold people's safety over their heads to get them to come to your point of view."

Despite the reservations over cutting off sanctuary cities from federal aid, the FOP had endorsed Trump during the election and indicated in their latest list that they expect him to do just that.

The issue of sanctuary cities has flared up in the Lone Star state, with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas calling for his Legislature to ban state funding to its sanctuary cities in 2017, The Associated Press reports.

"The American people made it clear that solving our illegal immigration crisis must be a priority," said Republican state Sen. Charles Perry of Texas, who has already filed for 2017 legislation that would cut off state funding to sanctuary localities. "That starts by eliminating sanctuary cities, securing our border and enforcing the immigration laws we currently have on the books."

Aside from the issue of immigration, the FOP also outlined other priorities they expect Trump to follow through on, such as increased funding for local law enforcement, rescinding a ban on local police receiving military-grade weaponry, and a 2003 law that forbids federal agencies from exercising racial profiling.

Civil rights organization Advancement Project took to social media to blast the FOP's list, accusing the union of floating a wish list for the new administration without taking ownership over the more controversial priorities.

"The FOP's agenda for Trump's first 100 days is abhorrent," the Advancement Project tweeted out.

http://www.opposingviews.com/i/socie...nctuary-cities

Yes, thank you FOP!! More police officers need to come out of their "shadows" to stand up and speak out for the Americans being ravaged and impoverished by illegal immigration, because this is not something we want to protect in our country, this is something we want to purge for our country once and for all.