As Crime Rises San Francisco Doubles Down on Sanctuary Policy

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With the latest data showing that violent crime is increasing and property crime remains the highest of any California county, San Francisco leaders emphasized last week that it would continue to be a sanctuary city. Chase DiFeliciantonio, and Molly Burke of SF Gate report that at a rally last week,

“Officials including Mayor Daniel Lurie, City Attorney David Chiu, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, union leaders and the entire Board of Supervisors took turns reiterating their commitment to San Francisco’s sanctuary policy, which restricts the city’s cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The policy is intended to afford people the confidence to interact with city police and other public safety agencies without fear of their immigration status being called into question.”

The rally, called by Service Employees International Union (SEIU) leader Olga Miranda, in response to an attempt by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to enter a city government building with a warrant to arrest an illegal alien, either charged with a crime or with one or more prior criminal convictions.

In recent elections, San Francisco voters threw out a soft-on-crime District Attorney and Mayor and elected new ones who promised to crack- down on criminals. It is estimated that up to 60% of the members of criminal street gangs are in the US illegally, and these gangs control the trafficking of dangerous illegal drugs like methamphetamine and fentanyl. A significant percentage of urban murders, shootings and vehicle thefts are committed by members of these gangs.

One of the promises made during last year’s presidential campaign was that, if elected, President Trump would direct federal law enforcement agencies to find and deport illegal alien criminals, something that the Biden administration refused to do. Following his election, President Trump immediately took action to keep that promise but, in places like San Francisco, elected leaders have made it clear that they would obstruct any effort to remove illegal alien criminals from the community. Newly elected Mayor Daniel Lurie explains:

“Public safety is my first priority,” Lurie said from a lectern on the steps of City Hall. “That means everyone in the city should feel safe” when dealing with law enforcement, he said.

He forgot to say “including criminals.”  The hypocrisy here is palpable.