Sanctuary cities won’t fix problems
By Boston Herald editorial staff | [First published by bostonherald.com on November 30, 2019]
Photo caption: The State House in Boston
The social justice warriors will be out in force at the State House Monday. That’s when the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition hosts a press conference in support of the Safe Communities Act, which goes before the Joint Committee on Public Safety and Homeland Security that morning.
It’s essentially a “sanctuary cities” bill, and would limit how the state and municipalities interact with federal immigration enforcement. Some key components: Law enforcement and court officers can’t ask people about their immigration status unless required by law, nor can they notify ICE when someone is about to be released from jail or court.
The question is: Safe communities for whom?
Opponents of the bill, also holding a press conference at the State House Monday, include Advocates for Victims of Illegal Alien Crime, and the fact that there is such an organization speaks to the core of the problem.