Kerby Anderson

We are a divided nation in trying to decide what to do with immigrants who have come to this country illegally. That is why Congress has not passed legislation that will clarify the status of illegal aliens. That is also why we now have a number of sanctuary cities and sanctuary states.

I have always wondered how far liberal politicians would go to protect these immigrants. Now we know. Look at what happened in Oakland, California two weeks ago. The mayor warned the immigrant community that ICE agents would be conducting operations in the area. She further warned business owners that California was a sanctuary state and that it was therefore illegal for them to assist federal immigration authorities in any way.

It turns out that ICE agents did conduct sweeps through the area. Of the suspected immigrants they caught, 150 had prior felonies or “significant or multiple misdemeanors” on their records. But they also estimated that more than 850 targets of the operation escaped because the mayor tipped them off.

The mayor has been unapologetic and argues that it was her “duty and moral obligation as mayor to give those families fair warning.” She says it is a myth to believe that “immigrants are dangerous criminals.” Many are not dangerous, but what about those who have already committed felonies? Tony Brass is a former federal prosecutor who is concerned. He says her actions “put agents in danger. You put the police in danger and you put your neighbors in danger.”

Take the word “immigrant” out of the equation for a moment. Would you be concerned if the mayor of a city warned felons that a police raid was about to show up at their apartment or home? I hope so. That is why the actions by this mayor are so dangerous.