San Francisco officials reacted confidently to President Donald Trump signing two executive orders earlier this week aimed at “sanctuary” cities and counties, where local law enforcement doesn’t typically help Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials round up immigrants.
The new orders Monday came after a federal judge last Thursday ruled Trump’s administration can’t withhold federal funds from San Francisco, Santa Clara County and other sanctuary jurisdictions while their lawsuit challenging the action continues.
Both jurisdictions, along with 14 others around the country, sued the administration in February after Trump used executive orders targeting them by freezing federal funding because their policies allegedly prevent local law enforcement from enforcing federal immigration law and policy.
Trump’s latest executive orders referred to an “invasion” of the southern U.S. border and instructed the U.S. Department of Justice to publish “a list of states and local jurisdictions that obstruct the enforcement of federal immigration laws (sanctuary jurisdictions).”
The orders also threatened to “identify appropriate federal funds to sanctuary jurisdictions, including grants and contracts, for suspension or termination, as appropriate.”
Chiu: ‘Another illegal executive order’
“This is yet another illegal executive order against sanctuary jurisdictions,” San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu said in an email.
Chiu said last week that U.S. District Judge William Orrick blocked the administration from “coercing San Francisco and other cities and counties into joining its reckless and illegal mass deportation efforts, which has now included the deportation of an individual in error and the unlawful arrests of U.S. citizens.”
The new orders offered local law enforcement federal legal assistance in enforcing federal immigration policies, increase pay and benefits for law enforcement officers, expanded penalties for crimes against law enforcement and promised to “promote investment in the security and capacity of prisons.”
“The federal government already knows the identity of every incarcerated person in our jails,” said San Francisco County Sheriff Paul Miyamoto. “If federal officials have a reason to arrest someone, they need a criminal warrant or court order.”
“San Franciscans want a balanced approach — to welcome immigrants while ensuring that serious and violent criminals do not threaten the safety of our community.” Sheriff Paul Miyamoto
Miyamoto said his office isn’t opposed to providing ICE with someone’s jail release date if that person meets “very specific criteria regarding criminal history and current felony charges, and if they pose a public safety risk.”
“Every case is thoroughly reviewed, and I make the final determination,” Miyamoto said. “San Franciscans want a balanced approach — to welcome immigrants while ensuring that serious and violent criminals do not threaten the safety of our community.”
Trump’s orders also promised penalties for “civil rights violations under the guise of ‘diversity, equity, and inclusion’ initiatives that restrict law enforcement activity or endanger citizens” and offered increased “military and national security assets in local jurisdictions to assist state and local law enforcement.”