The new policies the city of New Orleans has implemented that prevent law enforcement officers from sharing the immigration status of individuals they arrest with federal immigration officials has created yet another sanctuary city, and local leaders should reconsider the guidelines, according to Sen. David Vitter (R-LA).
In a letter Thursday to New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu and parish Sheriff Marlin Gusman, Vitter called on the officials to rescind the new regulations, highlighting the public safety concerns of harboring illegal immigrant criminals.
“This ridiculous policy prohibiting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers from doing their job to stop the illegal immigration epidemic is an insult to residents of New Orleans,” Vitter wrote. “If you do not think creating a sanctuary city will attract more illegal immigrants – some who could be dangerous criminals – you are incredibly naive.”
Sanctuary cities have been under fire in recent months following high-profile crimes committed at the hands of criminal aliens released due to sanctuary city policies. In his missive Thursday, Vitter warned of the dangers of sanctuary cities by pointing to some recent illegal immigrant crimes — including the murder of Kathryn Steinle.
Sanctuary city policies lead to increased crime and violence—just look to the murder of Kate Steinle by an illegal immigrant and five-time deportee, in San Francisco last year. The illegal immigrant had a criminal past but was not detained or deported due to similar sanctuary polices in San Francisco. Unfortunately, Ms. Steinle is far from the only victim of violent illegal immigrants. There is widespread evidence that sanctuary city policies have led directly to widespread crime and violence.
In July 2015, an 18 year-old girl and her 4 year-old son were found shot and burned in their car in Franklin County, Washington. The woman’s boyfriend is being held as a suspect on $1 million bail. They have already determined he is an illegal immigrant who was deported in 2014, and since illegally re-entered the United States.
Also in July 2015, an illegal immigrant who has been deported four times confessed to killing his wife with a hammer in Laredo, Texas. Laredo Police reported continuously encountering the man in violent episodes with his wife, yet did not notify Border Patrol.
In January 2015, an illegal immigrant was arrested on charges of shooting a convenience store clerk in Mesa, Arizona. At the time of arrest, he was awaiting a final deportation order.
In July 2014, an illegal immigrant beat and murdered his girlfriend in Metairie and was later arrested in Texas. He was originally apprehended at the southern border in Texas in June 2014, while illegally entering the U.S. He was released shortly after his original apprehension because of policies similar to what you have just implemented
Last year the House passed legislation to crack down on sanctuary cities. Senate Democrats blocked legislation, offered by Vitter, later that year to combat sanctuary cities and increase the penalty for illegal reentry after deportation. Last month the Justice Department signaled it would punish cities that do not comply with federal law, including immigration law.
“There are too many stories of undocumented violent criminals released from police custody and seeking safe harbor in sanctuary cities,” Vitter wrote. “I do not need to remind you that New Orleans is struggling with a devastatingly high murder and violent crime rate. Providing incentive for undocumented criminals to flock to the city is a huge mistake and I hope you will immediately reverse this policy.”
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