Thread: OH: Oberlin council urged to pass law denying assistance to

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Oberlin council urged to pass law denying assistance to immigration officials
Posted by Michael Sangiacomo/Plain Dealer Reporter
November 12, 2008 23:17PM

OBERLIN -- Federal officials will get no help from city officials or police in looking for illegal immigrants if council approves a proposed "no-assist" law.

The city's Human Relations Commission this week recommended the council adopt a law that would make the town a sanctuary city, believed to be Ohio's first.

The law would assure that all residents, including those living in the city illegally, can turn to the Police or Fire department for help and not be turned over to immigration officials, City Manager Eric Norenberg said.

"If Immigration comes to town, the city and the police force would not assist them unless ordered to by law or the court," he said. "To me, it's important that our city residents trust us."

If the measure passes, Oberlin would join about 30 other U.S. cities that have adopted laws that forbid local officials from assisting immigration officials in rounding up illegal residents.

Oberlin police Capt. Clifton Barnes said it sets a bad precedent "when you start picking and choosing which laws to enforce," but agreed in general that the city's police officers are not immigration agents.

"We have a lot of people from other countries visiting and living here," he said. "The only time we would question their immigration status is when there is an incident like a car accident or a severe traffic violation. We have no intention of taking that further."

The furor started with the July raid of the Casa Fiesta restaurant by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and the arrest of five illegal immigrants. Two more were arrested Oct. 30.

More than 100 people attended a protest rally after the July arrests, which prompted talk of a sanctuary ordinance.

Resident Mark Fahringer, chairman of the board of Lorain County Catholic Action Commission, said the city has a long tradition of protecting civil and human rights.

"We were in the forefront of the anti-slavery issue long ago," he said. "It's time the city took formal action to say that we will not give local assistance to such immigration raids."

But an immigration spokesman said officials are concerned that sanctuary policies send the wrong message to foreign nationals tied to serious criminal activity.

"Savvy criminals may exploit such policies, believing they can seek safe haven in sanctuary cities," Immigration spokesman Michael W. Gilhooly said. "When that happens, there are real risks for residents' welfare, and in some cases, even national security."

Julie Aldrich drove all the way from Mantua Township to voice her protest against the proposal.

"I oppose illegal immigration," she said. "It's destroying this country, destroying the banking industry because of the foreclosures and the health care industry."

The council in Ann Arbor, Mich., passed a similar law in 2002 and the results have been beneficial, Mayor John Hieftje said. City officials believed federal officials were harassing the city's large Muslim population, the mayor said.

When federal agents conduct raids, local police usually do not participate, Hieftje said.

"I have no problem prosecuting people who commit crimes, but the city said it would not take part," Hieftje said. "We think ICE's tactics are uncalled for. We do not assist ICE, but if they come to town, we go along and observe."

http://blog.cleveland.com

It's a college town with youth that are being indoctrinated by their professors to be good little socialists. Oberlin college makes San Franciso look prudish.

Michelle Malkin needs to write to those idiots in Oberlin and let them know just how stupid they're being. That's her old alma mater, maybe she can knock some sense into them.

Maybe so Obama's aunt can go there? Didn't I read that she's in Cleveland only 30 miles from there?