A majority of likely voters say the federal government should take legal action against cities that provide safe havens to illegal immigrants and cut federal funds to so-called "sanctuary cities," a Rasmussen Reports survey shows.
The survey, released Tuesday, said 54 percent support legal action against sanctuary cities and 60 percent support withholding federal funds from the jurisdictions.
Critics of sanctuary cities say the Justice Department is acting unfairly by not pursuing such cities for breaking the law while taking legal action against Arizona for instituting state measures against illegal immigration.
"The federal government should be suing San Francisco, which has refused to cooperate with the federal government in enforcing immigration laws," said Corey Stewart, chairman of the Prince William (Va.) County Board of County Supervisors.
In 2007, Mr. Stewart was at the forefront of the issue, driving some of the county’s toughest immigration laws.
"Our belief is that President Obama should be suing mayors [of sanctuary cities], not Arizona," said Maryland state Delegate Patrick L. McDonough, Baltimore County Republican. Mr. McDonough said he plans to introduce two immigration laws during the next General Assembly session: one that calls for a state ban on sanctuary cities and another patterned after the Arizona law.
A representative for U.S. Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr. recently said a "big difference" exists between a state or locality choosing not to use resources to enforce a federal law and a state passing its own immigration policy that "actively interferes with federal law."
Rasmussen found that 56 percent of those surveyed oppose the Justice Department’s action against Arizona and that 61 percent favor legislation similar to Arizona’s in their own state.
Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and the District of Columbia are among the major U.S. cities that have adopted sanctuary ordinances, which prohibit police officers and other municipal employees from asking people about their immigration status.
The new Arizona law requires local police to check the immigration status of those who they suspect of being in the country illegally.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/jul/27/voters-say-take-action-against-sanctuary-cities/
It is very clear that the only reason the DOJ is not suing the ‘so called sanctuary cities " is the very same reason the DOJ is suing the state of Arizona.It is selective politically motivated to help ensure a future voting base for the Democratic party. The thinking is that the Democrats" enabled us to become citizens" we are grateful and thus will vote to keep our "benefactor’s" in power.The administration and big business are only thinking of whats in it for the Democrats and others that constantly pander to illegal aliens and their supporters.They are in it for power and money and since Obama has no interest in any thing that will truly help America and Americans this is his modus operandi,"We the People" mean nothing to him.he has no love or respect for this nation.He is truly an abomination to America He wants this nation to become another 3rd world country.Socialism and Communism are his agendas not the US Constitution . .
One term is still too long for Obama
