Since 1989, San Francisco has deemed itself as a “sanctuary city” for undocumented immigrants. The designation carries little legal weight yet it has been a source of indignation by anti-immigrant groups, right-wing commentators, and others. Their anger will likely to be reignited when the city’s reexamines the immigration policy this week.Mayor Gavin Newsom has come under fire over the “sanctuary city” status yet he received additional heat last year when he partially changed the policy. (He permitted illegal immigrant minors suspected of convicted of a felony to be taken to immigration authorities including possible deportation). Yet a new bill introduced to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors would make it harder for convicted undocumented youths to be handed to immigration agents.
The “sanctuary city” policy came under increased scrutiny last year over a crime committed by an undocumented immigrant accused of murder that was allegedly”shielded” from deportation. Yet according to one of the backers of the new measure- Supervisor David Campos- the bill is a needed compromise:
(…) Campos, along with a majority of supervisors, said the stricter policy is too reactionary. The new law would find a middle ground by establishing guilt before being reported, he said.Image- National Geographic
“This is about letting a court decide whether or not to report a juvenile to ICE,” said Campos, a Guatemalan immigrant. “If you’re reporting them right away, you’re essentially being judge and jury to that child.”
Online Sources- San Francisco Examiner, The Latin Americanist, Time, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Examiner, Mercury News
