Posted on 01/27/2017 5:02:09 AM PST by a fool in paradise
ONE OF PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S MANY CAMPAIGN PROMISES was to ”end sanctuary cities.” On Wednesday, Trump took his first steps toward that end, issuing an executive order called ”Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States."
Among other actions outlined in the order, cities that do not comply with federal immigration enforcement agents “are not eligible to receive Federal grants, except as deemed necessary for law enforcement purposes by the Attorney General or the Secretary.” In addition, the order restored both the Immigration and Nationality Act Section 287(g) and the Secure Communities Program, which are used to compel local law enforcement agencies to enforce federal immigration law.
In response, mayors across the nation issued statements of their own, vowing to protect their cities from federal interference, including Houston’s Mayor Sylvester Turner, who wrote:
"I know there are a lot of families and children who are afraid and worried right now about what might happen to them. I want them to know that Houston is, and always has been, a welcoming city, where we value and appreciate diversity. HPD is not the Immigration and Naturalization Service. We don’t profile, and we are not going to start profiling people to determine whether they are here illegally. It hasn’t happened under previous mayors, and it will not happen under my administration."
Turner was joined in his response by Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, who called the executive order an attack “on Boston’s people, Boston’s strength and Boston’s values.” In Seattle, Mayor Ed Murray said in a press conference Wednesday, “This city will not be bullied by this administration. We believe we have the rule of law and the courts on our side.”
Meanwhile in Chicago, Mayor Rahm Emanuel said, “I want to be clear: We’re going to stay a sanctuary city. We welcome people, whether you’re from Poland or Pakistan, whether you’re from Ireland or India or Israel and whether you’re from Mexico or Moldova, where my grandfather is from, you are welcome in Chicago as you pursue the American Dream.”
The term “sanctuary city” up until now has had no formal or legal definition. But the executive order invokes the authority to determine which cities fit the bill. “The Secretary has the authority to designate, in his discretion and to the extent consistent with law, a jurisdiction as a sanctuary jurisdiction,” reads Section 9(a), which offers no inclination of what that might mean for cities such as Houston.
Full headline:
Mayor Sylvester Turner Issues Statement on Immigration
“HPD is not the Immigration and Naturalization Service.”
Read between the lines here. This mayor’s statement is for local political consumption there in TX. No, his cops will not ask citizenship questions, but as far as honoring INS detainers, if Houston would lose fed $ if they did not, HPD will certainly honor IRS hold requests.
Previously:
(Mayor Sylvester) Turner Pledges to Protect Immigrants, But Avoids Calling Houston “Sanctuary City”
Houston Press ^ | TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 2016 AT 8 A.M. | MEAGAN FLYNN
In the wake of the presidential election, Mayor Sylvester Turner is taking steps to promise undocumented immigrants or newly arrived refugees that he will strive to keep them safe and respect their rights in Houston. The election of a certain someone, whom he did not name, will not change Houston’s commitment to welcoming all walks of life and valuing diversity, Turner pledged at a press conference Monday morning.
To demonstrate this pledge, Turner has created the Office of New Americans, to help immigrants and refugees integrate into their new communities and access services they may need. He has also launched a new task force, made up of organizations such as United We Dream, that will put together a list of recommendations as to how Houston can help its vast immigrant population feel safer. Amid national xenophobic rhetoric from politicians such as President-elect Donald Trump, Turner said Houston will aggressively go after anyone who commits hate crimes against marginalized populations.
The task force, called Welcoming Houston, also has a list of hotlines on its website that immigrants can contact if they ever feel threatened or victimized.
“In the wake of the recent election, many members of our community are asking whether they will continue to have a place in our great city. They fear for themselves, their children and their communities,” Turner said. “We cannot ignore those realities. ... I want to be very clear: The City of Houston that existed prior to the election, that welcomed you to this city, that rejoiced in your diversity — that city still exists today. I intend to do everything within my power to respect you, to protect you, and to serve you as mayor.”
Houston Independent School District Superintendent Richard Carranza also promised parents and students that they will never have to fear HISD inquiring about students’ immigration status or allowing immigration raids at school — that, “when you come to school, you are coming to a safe haven, and we will protect your rights.” Likewise, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said HPD officers have no business identifying undocumented immigrants or turning them over to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and so immigrants should never be afraid to contact police.
Because the policies were starting to sound awfully similar to the definition of a sanctuary city — a municipality that refuses to enforce federal immigration law among its citizens — reporters afterward addressed the elephant in the room: Would Turner consider officially designating Houston a sanctuary city?
Things got awkward.
A sanctuary city is, by definition, a place where undocumented immigrants can freely go about their lives without fear of prosecution or deportation by local authorities. Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities, mayors of New York and Los Angeles — the two most populous sanctuary cities in the country — have not backed down from their pledges to protect their undocumented immigrants. In Texas, cities that have even gotten close to calling themselves sanctuary cities (none currently exist) received a similar threat from Governor Greg Abbott. Abbott, in Trumpian style, also announced on Twitter November 27 that he will “sign a law that bans sanctuary cities. Also I’ve already issued an order cutting funding to sanctuary cities.”
Yes. I’m going to sign a law that bans sanctuary cities. Also I’ve already issued an order cutting funding to sanctuary cities. #txlege https://t.co/uYXa2QFrvE
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) November 28, 2016
So perhaps it is no surprise politically, then, when Turner snubbed reporters’ sanctuary city questions.
Asked again, more directly, whether he will consider officially designating Houston a sanctuary city, Turner said: “It is a welcoming city. And that is the message I want to emphasize.”
United We Dream representative Oscar Hernandez told the Houston Press afterward that using those two words is not necessarily as important as the policies and visions Turner announced Monday, and the public should put more energy into holding Turner accountable for sticking to those promises.
Still, at least one Houstonian at the press conference Monday was upset by Turner’s refusal to even utter the words. Yelling from the crowd, he told Turner to stop “cowering” from using the language in a spontaneous monologue that prompted Turner’s security detail to step forward near the podium.
And with that, the press conference was over.
Mayor of Houston. Just do your job. Enforce the laws of the Country and your State. That is what you are there for!
And when they try to re-enter, send them to Gitmo.
By the creation of a new office his IS doing something previous (Democrat) mayors have not done AND he is spending tax money to do so.
so, the lines are drawn
The question becomes will the president evade an injunction and continue to with hold funds during the years before the matter comes to trial?
He was hired to fix potholes (a campaign promise) and reduce flooding (they are punting that this week into 2018 with no relief expected before 2021)...
He’s a shyster lawyer
United We Dream representative Oscar Hernandez told the Houston Press afterward that using those two words is not necessarily as important as the policies and visions Turner announced Monday, and the public should put more energy into holding Turner accountable for sticking to those promises.
Rat mayors are more accountable to illegals than U.S. citizens.
It all comes down to the money pot. Suck dry the labor from illegals with under the table pittance pay. Nice little slave labor force you got there. They stay in the shadows and quiet because if they act up, out they go.
We see what scam you got going there. Nice little slaves.
Then NO $oup Money for you !!
It all comes down to the money pot. Suck dry the labor from illegals with under the table pittance pay. Nice little slave labor force you got there. They stay in the shadows and quiet because if they act up, out they go.
We see what scam you got going there. Nice little slaves.
1) Stop all federal dollars going to Houston.
2) Declare martial law, administered by the US DoJ.
3) Jail the mayor, city council, and police chief.
Everyone else will fall into line pretty quickly.
Time to stop being nice: If you or your loved ones are the victims of violence being perpetrated by illegal immigrants, you are ENTITLED to pay a late-night visit to the local Burgermeisters RESPONSIBLE for allowing it to happen....
When elected officials ignore the laws that protect the people, WE THE PEOPLE are no longer obligated to obey the laws that protect those officials....
I thank GOD for Trump coming along an pulling peoples’ heads out of their collective behinds....I TRULY believe we are witnessing a Revolution...
Come to America legally. Follow the laws. Its that simple.
But libs think they are superior. They get to create right and wrong as they wish.
Actually, these mayors are on solid ground based on state’s rights. It’s not their fault that a corrupt federal government welcomed illegals, and they are under no legal obligation to help enforce federal laws.
As far as their overall ethics goes, they are scum sucking, corrupt swamp monsters who want to use illegals to booster and protect their corrupt system.
You imagine what the illegals will think when mayors start. getting thrown in jail charged with a felony . Romney and Cruz are even nervous
I am old enough to remember when Democrats stood on the court house steps vowing to fight desegregation. They were pandering to their voters then as they are pandering now.
The hurt has not yet begun. I am waiting to see if they are willing to live up to their convictions after the money spigot gets turned off.
And yes, those that are in this country illegally should be afraid. Afraid that they will be caught and they will be deported. I want them so afraid that they will not even try to get on the welfare rolls let alone try to vote.
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