The deportation of minors solely because they are undocumented is an unfair punishment for two reasons: Parents are usually responsible for their children’s presence in the United States and this action breaks up families.
This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors took an important step when a large majority reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary role, countering the path taken by its mayor.
Last May, in response to several cases of undocumented juveniles involved in murders, Mayor Gavin Newsom changed a 1989 policy which had protected those without papers. Newsom put in place a policy that mere suspicion of a crime was enough for undocumented minors to be turned over to immigration authorities.
The mayor is using a federal law that allows him to treat minors as adults as a way of demonstrating that, as a gubernatorial candidate, he is tough on immigration. His decision is reprehensible, especially when legal analysis by San Francisco’s city attorney indicated that the city is not compelled to break its sanctuary policy.
Meanwhile, Bay Area immigrant families are being torn apart. It is estimated that more than 100 minors have been turned over to Immigration & Customs Enforcement. We believe the process could be tightened up to avoid repeating past incidents without having to punish the innocent.
The County Board of Supervisors took a brave stand by approving a measure that permits immigrant juveniles to be turned over to ICE only after being convicted of a crime. This is fair and reasonable. The measure’s large margin of approval may be enough to ward off a veto by Newsom.
San Francisco is a model city in terms of tolerance and protection of individual rights. In that spirit, it became a sanctuary for undocumented persons to avoid deportation. It is unacceptable to treat minors as adults, or suspects as convicts, even when the mayor is in the middle of a political campaign.
The deportation of minors solely because they are undocumented is an unfair punishment for two reasons: Parents are usually responsible for their children’s presence in the United States and this action breaks up families.
This week the San Francisco Board of Supervisors took an important step when a large majority reaffirmed the city’s sanctuary role, countering the path taken by its mayor.
Last May, in response to several cases of undocumented juveniles involved in murders, Mayor Gavin Newsom changed a 1989 policy which had protected those without papers. Newsom put in place a policy that mere suspicion of a crime was enough for undocumented minors to be turned over to immigration authorities.
The mayor is using a federal law that allows him to treat minors as adults as a way of demonstrating that, as a gubernatorial candidate, he is tough on immigration. His decision is reprehensible, especially when legal analysis by San Francisco’s city attorney indicated that the city is not compelled to break its sanctuary policy.
Meanwhile, Bay Area immigrant families are being torn apart. It is estimated that more than 100 minors have been turned over to Immigration & Customs Enforcement. We believe the process could be tightened up to avoid repeating past incidents without having to punish the innocent.
The County Board of Supervisors took a brave stand by approving a measure that permits immigrant juveniles to be turned over to ICE only after being convicted of a crime. This is fair and reasonable. The measure’s large margin of approval may be enough to ward off a veto by Newsom.
