Is Houston a sanctuary city or not?

Posted Tue, Aug 1, 2006 at 9:43 am
Some say Houston is an illegal alien sanctuary, some deny it. The denials seem to be based on how you define "sanctuary", and the denials seem to be contradicted by the thoughts of the local leaders:
...A group called Protect Our Citizens is gathering signatures for a November ballot referendum that would amend Houston's city charter to allow police to verify any suspect's citizenship.

U.S. Rep John Culberson, R-Houston, last month added an amendment to an appropriations bill that would block federal law enforcement money for cities with "sanctuary policies." The spending measure still has to be discussed in the Senate.

Mayor Bill White and police department officials deny Houston is a sanctuary city, saying officers will arrest anybody, including illegal immigrants, as needed. But White added that officers would be diverted from priority calls if they had to check the citizenship status of every person they dealt with.

...The Houston policy allows officers to inquire about citizenship status if a person is arrested for anything other than a traffic or city ordinance violation.

But Houston City Councilwoman Shelley Sekula-Gibbs, who is seeking the nod to be former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay's replacement in the race for his congressional seat, said officers should be allowed to check in any situation...

Craig Ferrell, general counsel for the Houston Police Department, said officers can't legally question individuals solely on the suspicion they are in the country illegally. He also noted police need immigrants to feel comfortable talking to authorities and not fear deportation.

...Houston City Councilwoman Carol Alvarado called anti-immigration efforts an "immoral" result of election-year politics.

Alvarado is helping organize opposition to the referendum movement...
Previously:

Houston reaffirms illegal aliens sanctuary policy

"'Sanctuary' practice in Houston draws fire"

"The Illegal-Alien Crime Wave"

Comments

Al Austin (not verified)

Mon, 08/14/2006 - 06:53

The Democrats spin makers are making a major mistake in embracing fringe groups with questionable motives. The elements in the Democratic Party who show support for illegal immigrants are a disgrace and will ultimately lose votes in the November election. The Republicans who profit off the cheap unskilled illegal labor pool also is a disgrace for being unbridled capitalistic and ultimately mercenary. The illegal aliens themselves are a disgrace for their presence and the ongoing massive leaching off the ample government benefits that they do not currently financially reimburse to any realistic degree.

The current Democratic party platform reeks with the ultra liberal planks to a point that the positions are often unacceptable. The ultra liberal policy makers that want the rest of the open minded citizens to go in lock step with the radically far left positions will be ultimately disappointed and thus lose electable seats. The Republicans are counting on the shift but the Republicans have used the same tactic to pull the moderates to the extreme far right. Both parties become hijacked by the extremists at the left and right fringes.

The Democratic party with ultra liberals (including the Green and Libertarian parties) and the and Republican party with the ultra conservatives need to STOP embarrassing any group or person that is NOT seeking the welfare of the majority of Americans in the middle. These true Americans are neither overly rich nor poor. These true Americans work hard for their families and don't seek any form of government handout including, personal, social or corporate welfare. These true Americans speak, read and write in the only proper language for this country and that is English. I can support NO candidate that supports any WEAK handling of socialist leaning tolerance of illegal aliens, inadequate leaky borders, current liberation immigration policies or dual citizenship. There must be adequate teeth in enforcement of ALL laws to protect the public from the abuses of the unethical and manipulative factions. Until then we moderates might hold our collective nose while voting for

Al Austin (not verified)

Mon, 08/14/2006 - 06:51

The Democrats spin makers are making a major mistake in embracing fringe groups with questionable motives. The elements in the Democratic Party who show support for illegal immigrants are a disgrace and will ultimately lose votes in the November election. The Republicans who profit off the cheap unskilled illegal labor pool also is a disgrace for being unbridled capitalistic and ultimately mercenary. The illegal aliens themselves are a disgrace for their presence and the ongoing massive leaching off the ample government benefits that they do not currently financially reimburse to any realistic degree.

The current Democratic party platform reeks with the ultra liberal planks to a point that the positions are often unacceptable. The ultra liberal policy makers that want the rest of the open minded citizens to go in lock step with the radically far left positions will be ultimately disappointed and thus lose electable seats. The Republicans are counting on the shift but the Republicans have used the same tactic to pull the moderates to the extreme far right. Both parties become hijacked by the extremists at the left and right fringes.

The Democratic party with ultra liberals (including the Green and Libertarian parties) and the and Republican party with the ultra conservatives need to STOP embarrassing any group or person that is NOT seeking the welfare of the majority of Americans in the middle. These true Americans are neither overly rich nor poor. These true Americans work hard for their families and don't seek any form of government handout including, personal, social or corporate welfare. These true Americans speak, read and write in the only proper language for this country and that is English. I can support NO candidate that supports any WEAK handling of socialist leaning tolerance of illegal aliens, inadequate leaky borders, current liberation immigration policies or dual citizenship. There must be adequate teeth in enforcement of ALL laws to protect the public from the abuses of the unethical and manipulative factions. Until then we moderates might hold our collective nose while voting for

John S Bolton (not verified)

Tue, 08/01/2006 - 10:52

Special rights for illegals is what is immoral, not the move towards holding foreign criminals to the same standard as citizens.
The effrontery of the latino activists is difficult to exaggerate; as if they believed they had a right to invade and that anyone who does not do everything to accomodate such foreign crimnals is somehow wrong.