Sanctuary City

In the ever-divisive debate over the proper role of local police in enforcing federal immigration law, there is a recurrent theme, especially as it involves Los Angeles: Critics complain that this and other municipalities have become "sanctuary cities," in which those in the country illegally are shielded from immigration authorities. That complaint is widespread — it's a regular feature of letters to the editor of this newspaper, and it crops up in politics at all levels. Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman argued it during her failed effort against Jerry Brown.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The brothers' American experience was rooted here, a city of Ivy Leaguers and immigrants across the Charles River from Boston. In almost every way, it was unremarkable. They lived in a weathered neighborhood of Brazilians and Portuguese. Attended a public school. Joined sports teams. Prayed at a nearby mosque. In a city where more than 50 languages are spoken, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Chechen heritage would have made them neither outsiders nor outcasts.

Frank Kennedy is a third-generation San Franciscan, the son and grandson of local police officers and the proud owner of a Bay Area business. And this week he became Exhibit A for all he believes ails his hometown. On Wednesday, a 21-year-old undocumented Salvadoran immigrant pleaded not guilty to murdering Kennedy's brother-in-law and two nephews in a case that has galvanized sentiment nationwide against this "sanctuary city" and its ambitious mayor.

In the ever-divisive debate over the proper role of local police in enforcing federal immigration law, there is a recurrent theme, especially as it involves Los Angeles: Critics complain that this and other municipalities have become "sanctuary cities," in which those in the country illegally are shielded from immigration authorities. That complaint is widespread — it's a regular feature of letters to the editor of this newspaper, and it crops up in politics at all levels. Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman argued it during her failed effort against Jerry Brown.

American churches coined the phrase, but among Republican presidential candidates, "sanctuary city" has become a dirty word. At Wednesday's GOP presidential debate, the issue sparked hard-edged exchanges between two of the leading contenders for the party's nomination. Mitt Romney accused Rudolph W. Giuliani of running a "sanctuary city" as mayor of New York because of policies that shielded illegal immigrants from being reported to federal authorities.

The Costa Mesa City Council has voted unanimously to declare itself a "rule of law" community, further widening the divide over illegal immigration in the central Orange County city. This week's resolution follows an April news conference in which Mayor Allan Mansoor called for stricter regulations to catch illegal immigrants living, working and driving in the city. Costa Mesa has sought for several years to reduce the number of illegal immigrants within its borders by regulating day laborers, asking police to check the immigration status of people they stop and limiting the number of soccer fields in parks.

Maywood Councilman Felipe Aguirre sees his small working-class city as "the Santa Monica of the Southeast" — a place built on activism, a healthy distrust of the establishment and compassion for the less fortunate. But these days, Maywood is gaining a decidedly less romantic image. Earlier this year, officials announced that they were firing the city workforce and outsourcing most municipal functions to the neighboring city of Bell. Then, Bell's government imploded in a scandal over eye-popping salaries paid to the city manager and other senior officials.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The brothers' American experience was rooted here, a city of Ivy Leaguers and immigrants across the Charles River from Boston. In almost every way, it was unremarkable. They lived in a weathered neighborhood of Brazilians and Portuguese. Attended a public school. Joined sports teams. Prayed at a nearby mosque. In a city where more than 50 languages are spoken, Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's Chechen heritage would have made them neither outsiders nor outcasts.

Is Los Angeles some kind of "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants? People on all sides of the debate like to think so. Those who want to protect the immigrants and their families use the term with a certain bravado, as if to stress that their city has adopted a firm and unique moral stance. Those who want the immigrants out use it too, but as an expression of derision for what they insist is the flouting of federal immigration law.

In his quest for political notoriety, it would seem Richard Roe ("No-Smoking Law to End All," Feb. 9) is in search of a cause that will emblazon his name in lights. I propose that Mr. Roe channel his energies away from his "humanitarian gesture" (ridding this small community of smokers and, thereby, cleaning up even the air out of doors) and toward a human rights campaign that would declare Del Mar a sanctuary city for Central American refugees. If we are going to speak of humanitarian gestures, let's do so. If we're going to speak of political opportunists and publicity mongers, let's at least be honest.

The two top candidates running for California lieutenant governor traded accusations of pampering criminal illegal immigrants and slashing public school funding in a debate Thursday that added a dash of drama to what has otherwise been a little-noted race. Democrat Gavin Newsom, the mayor of San Francisco, set the tone at the outset when he blamed his opponent, GOP Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, for casting the key vote for a state budget that produced the "biggest tax increase in California history and the biggest education cuts in California history.

Maywood Councilman Felipe Aguirre sees his small working-class city as "the Santa Monica of the Southeast" — a place built on activism, a healthy distrust of the establishment and compassion for the less fortunate. But these days, Maywood is gaining a decidedly less romantic image. Earlier this year, officials announced that they were firing the city workforce and outsourcing most municipal functions to the neighboring city of Bell. Then, Bell's government imploded in a scandal over eye-popping salaries paid to the city manager and other senior officials.

The Costa Mesa City Council has voted unanimously to declare itself a "rule of law" community, further widening the divide over illegal immigration in the central Orange County city. This week's resolution follows an April news conference in which Mayor Allan Mansoor called for stricter regulations to catch illegal immigrants living, working and driving in the city. Costa Mesa has sought for several years to reduce the number of illegal immigrants within its borders by regulating day laborers, asking police to check the immigration status of people they stop and limiting the number of soccer fields in parks.

The United States, and California in particular, has been built by immigrants who legally crossed our borders in search of a brighter future. For generations, these legal immigrants have made immeasurable contributions to creating a unique and vibrant California. As Americans and Californians, we are right to welcome people from all over the globe when they obey our laws and are willing to play by the rules. Illegal immigration is another matter entirely. With the state budget in tatters, millions of residents out of work and a state prison system strained by massive overcrowding, California simply cannot continue to ignore the strain that illegal immigration puts on our budget and economy.

A small group of Minuteman Project activists demonstrated Wednesday against this city's sanctuary policy, but their call for Mayor Gavin Newsom's ouster was drowned out by hundreds of chanting immigration rights supporters. Jim Gilchrist, founder of the anti-illegal-immigrant group, stepped inside City Hall, where he told reporters that Newsom should resign because of "his endorsement and support of sanctuary city status that led to the horrific slayings of the Bologna family."

Frank Kennedy is a third-generation San Franciscan, the son and grandson of local police officers and the proud owner of a Bay Area business. And this week he became Exhibit A for all he believes ails his hometown. On Wednesday, a 21-year-old undocumented Salvadoran immigrant pleaded not guilty to murdering Kennedy's brother-in-law and two nephews in a case that has galvanized sentiment nationwide against this "sanctuary city" and its ambitious mayor.

A small group of Minuteman Project activists demonstrated Wednesday against this city's sanctuary policy, but their call for Mayor Gavin Newsom's ouster was drowned out by hundreds of chanting immigration rights supporters. Jim Gilchrist, founder of the anti-illegal-immigrant group, stepped inside City Hall, where he told reporters that Newsom should resign because of "his endorsement and support of sanctuary city status that led to the horrific slayings of the Bologna family."

The City Council passed a resolution inviting illegal aliens to the Sanctuary City of the Angels. How does one teach the youth about good citizenship and respect for the law when the council says if you don't agree with the law don't obey. We have enough scofflaws, toxic-waste polluters and others who don't agree with existing laws and break them. Who is to say that breaking the law when pandering for votes is any different than when it is done for the Almighty Dollar. We each have different values.

Is Los Angeles some kind of "sanctuary city" for illegal immigrants? People on all sides of the debate like to think so. Those who want to protect the immigrants and their families use the term with a certain bravado, as if to stress that their city has adopted a firm and unique moral stance. Those who want the immigrants out use it too, but as an expression of derision for what they insist is the flouting of federal immigration law.

California's best-known sanctuary city -- a haven for illegal immigrants -- has been escorting convicted juvenile offenders back to their home countries at city expense for nearly a generation and shielding them from federal officials in the process. But after several recent embarrassing incidents, this famously liberal enclave has been forced to reconsider how it deals with young undocumented criminals.