The local media has finally responded to the call by community activists at the last Santa Ana City Council meeting for the City to declare itself a sanctuary for immigrants. Jennifer Delson of the Times wrote the article that I will be excerpting below.
Members of a Latino rights group say they want Santa Ana council members to declare their city a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, a designation that could give more protection to undocumented residents.
The discussion about making Santa Ana a sanctuary city demonstrates how Latinos are increasingly concerned about the federal government’s increasing crackdown on illegal immigrants. On June 22, 175 people were arrested in Orange County on immigration violations during a five-day campaign, the largest single enforcement for immigration fugitives in Orange County. The crackdown netted 27 criminal suspects, including a murder suspect and a convicted child molester.
“The arrests make you think that Santa Ana is more vulnerable than other communities and it may be a good idea to make it a sanctuary city where immigrants do not have to be concerned about increased enforcement activity,” said Amin David, who heads Los Amigos of Orange County, a civic group. The group discussed the proposal at its meeting last month.
A sanctuary city designation would discourage cooperation between federal immigration authorities and local police. But federal authorities say that although they often work with local police, they do not need local authorization to make immigration arrests. Therefore, the sanctuary designation would mostly be symbolic.
Other cities, including Bell Gardens, Huntington Park, San Francisco, Coachella and El Centro, have adopted the designation, said Hector Alvarado, a Maywood activist.
Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido did not return calls for comment. Other council members said they supported immigrants, but none have yet said they would pursue the designation.
“It’s a very radical proposal for Orange County, but it would be humane,” Councilman Sal Tinajero said.
Councilwoman Michele Martinez said she inquired about the designation several months ago after learning that other cities had obtained it.
Police Chief Paul Walters said he did not support the concept. Illegal immigrants are referred to federal authorities only if they commit a crime, he said.
Sanctuary “is a political statement,” he said. “It’s not anything we want to support in this city. We want to go after criminals and work with federal authorities.”
Resident Debbie McEwen said Santa Ana was already a sanctuary city “to a certain degree,” because there are so many undocumented residents and little enforcement.
On June 1, ICE created a team that for the first time will solely look for fugitives in Orange County. The team is the fifth created in Southern California since 2003, ICE spokesperson Virginia Kice said.
In the last nine months, the Los Angeles area teams have made more than 1,600 arrests of possible illegal immigrants, including more than 300 with criminal records. Nationwide, fugitive arrests have gradually increased, from 1,900 in 2003 to 21,707 in the first six months of 2007, she said.
“More arrests will definitely be made,” Hayes said.
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I am an Anglo and lifetime resident of Santa Ana. I am not totally convinced still but I’d like to see us pursue the Sanctuary status or at least have the city council put it on an agenda so we can learn more about it. I’ve seen some of my neighbors come to live in fear of ICE and even the police. We need to take away the fear. It impacts families. How can the children pretend to be able to concentrate on studies when they see their parents in fear. It may be the humane thing for us to do as a city to send a message that Santa Ana is a place one can come, work hard, and enjoy a peaceful quality of life. If it really only takes one councilmember to put it on an agenda then I wish Ms. Martinez would do it. I met her at a march and she seems to really care for the residents. I know the old councils used to try to wait to get 7-0 votes on everything but this is a new day and the people deserve to hear all about the Sanctuary city. I know we may not all agree but we need to help hard working people live peaceful lives.
Ms. Martinez also stated in the article you mention “Most of the council thinks sanctuary is not going to do anything, so why even do it”?
Does she include herself among that group on the council?
It think another positive outcome of puting Sanctuary city on the agenda and taking a vote would be to see which councilmembers will stand up for the concept. This is helpful to me as a voter when they run for re-election. Too often they hide their beliefs and I want to know who will stand up with the working famlies in Santa Ana and protect them from fear. Our future is with our children and the Sanctuary city is for them! One council member can put this item on an agenda and a second could second a motion so we could get a vote. I’m glad Amin David and others leaders are bringing up this topic now. We are ready to show the rest of Orange COunty that we are leaders in treating residents with dignity. Dios Les Bendigan!
Santa Ana already is a sanctuary City. Any City with 100,000 or more illegals living within its borders can consider itself so.
If you are here illegally, why would you be surprised if you were arrested?? If I stole a car, I wouldn’t be surprised if I were arrested and prosecuted….I don’t feel sorry about families being torn apart because it is the parents fault for putting their familiy in that predicament.
You reap what you sow.
How can Pulido contradict himself by agreeing to pursue a sanctuary status for the City when he has appointed a Minute Man (Lupe Moreno) to the library commission? He can’t and that’s why he won’t return phone calls on this subject.
Why is it OK for Amin David and others to try and turn Santa Ana into a sanctuary city?
I have to wonder, since they don’t even live here, why aren’t they pursuing a sanctuary designation for their own cities?
Looks like a new form of NIMBYism.
It seems like they hold Santa Ana in very low regard, and are saying it’s OK for Santa Ana, but don’t do it to my city.
The Reasons why these people were deported has fallen on Deaf Ears. They commited crimes in this Country.
Amin David is a very great man and do not speak ill of him! When he finishes with Santa Ana he will move on to Anaheim and Placetia and poco a poco a todos las ciudades. Gracias Amin por todo que estas hacieno para nuestra comunidad!
Lets see Martinez put it on the agenda as an 85a. Sal can second it.Then they can take a vote.5-2 against with Claudia voting no.That should finish her off for good.Now lets see what councilmember has the courage to do it.
Both Sal and Michele can do just that with no worries. It’s Carlos who is up for re-election and will have to explain to the Latino communty why he is against them if he votes no. Let him be the Pete Wilson of Santa Ana!!!
Is the “Latino” community really driven by a desire for illegal immigrant “sanctuary?
I think the idea is worthy of discussion.
In the past, Costa Mesa had a policy of not having the police conduct immigration business. If there was a crime committed, the police were called and it was a criminal, not an immigration issue.
This approach encouraged ALL citizens to see the police in their law and order capabilities, rather than an organization that enforced “border” violations.
By creating a sanctuary status, would this encourage hardworking people to seek housing in the city? Would any benefit far outweigh criminals using its status for protection? What are the pros and cons of it?
The fact is: The federal government is not enforcing the borders or the ports. People are going to come to this country for the opportunities and if they are not prevented from doing it, they are going to come here for a better life. The Feds don’t take immigration all that seriously. Why should the police have to get involved with tearing up families?
It is an interesting proposal.
I think many would be surprised at how much support there would be in Santa Ana to create the Sanctuary status. Oh sure, the usual suspects would complain but then they didn’t want the Northgate Market either and look how nice that project turned out! Progressive leaders like Michele and Sal need to put this on the agenda and see if we can’t get this passed. The time is now.
Santa Ana police chief Paul Walters has said that the sanctuary city designation is a bad idea. As the chief law enforcement officer in the city, he knows a little something more than the average person about it, and he is against it.
Of course, they could always do as Art keeps promoting, and hire the sheriff. With the OCSD illegal immigration policy, it wouldn’t be long before the sanctuary city designation fell apart as more and more people would be deported..
Which other federal laws would be allowed to be disregarded under the sanctuary city designation?
The council could also be in violation of federal law if they take a vote to help people violate federal immigration law or interfere with any federal law enforcement action.
#15
What are Walter’s reasons, exactly?
Thanks
Gee, if becoming a sanctuary for immigrants (as in undocumented, I presume) perhaps the next step can be to become a sanctuary for sex offenders. They too are having trouble fitting in and this would help that persecuted group as well. After that, maybe a sanctuary for termed out politicians. The opportunities to provide accommodation to various groups would appear endless—-. Just think how many people would be clamoring to live in progressive Santa Ana !
I am against this kind of feel good, no real meaning, let’s waste the taxpayers money doing something that is obstructive to law enforcement… mental masturbation. Sanctuary from a city council is just that, it has zero real meaning. It is just as stupid as saying they are either for against the space program from NASA or against the war on terrorism.
I also think they may actually piss off citizens, who are, after all the voters.