San Francisco Officials Take Up Immigrant Sanctuary Policy
Kate Steinle Photo from Facebook
Janie Har of the Associated Press ·reports that, almost a year after a shooting death along a San Francisco pier sparked a national debate, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors later today will vote on a proposal that directs law officers to notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement only if the person detained is charged with a violent crime and has been convicted of a violent crime within the last seven years.
Current San Francisco law contains leeway for city employees to contact ICE when they encounter people who are living in the country illegally and not in jail. The new sheriff repealed the communication ban, but the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department generally does not cooperate with ICE. The vote comes after the shooting death of a 32-year-old woman walking along a San Francisco pier. Kate Steinle was shot by aun undocumented Mexican immigrant who had been released from San Francisco’s jail despite a federal request to keep him in custody for deportation.
According to the AP report, Supervisor John Avalos, the legislation’s chief sponsor and longtime immigration advocate, said the ordinance reaffirms the message to immigrants that they won’t be deported for reporting a crime or cooperating with police. “We want to keep that clear separation,” he said.
San Francisco Sheriff Vicki Hennessy opposes the legislation, saying that she should have discretion about when to notify federal immigration officials.
Sanctuary-city critics continue to chastise San Francisco officials. But immigration advocates say a bright-line rule is needed.
KJ