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20 de Enero, 2008

Mount Rainier Has Heart

Categorized under Corazón , Derechos Humanos , Frontera | Tags: Immigration, migra, Mount Rainier, Sanctuary Cities

The tiny city of Mount Rainier is considering whether to declare itself a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, entering a regional and national debate over enforcement of immigration law.
If the City Council approves the proposal, the eclectic city of 9,000 in Prince George's County will join nearby Takoma Park in prohibiting police officers and city workers from checking the immigration status of residents or reporting those who lack legal residency documents to federal immigration authorities. Takoma Park has been a "sanctuary" city since 1985.

Mount Rainier City Council member Pedro Briones, who proposed the measure, said his intent is not to protect criminals but to allow all immigrants access to community services "so long as they are contributing residents of Mount Rainier and follow our city rules and regulations."

—Mount Rainier Council to Vote On Becoming 'Sanctuary' City

BUENO. Esperando. Because you know, after reading some op-eds and threads esta mañana (bad decision?), I can't help thinking how funny it is (puke-puke funny) how quickly people can completely turn their backs on "Liberty and Justice for ALL" and suddenly become enamored with this abstract weapon LAW (a set of laws they don't seem to fully understand nor have not researched often). But nah, LAW is good enough for them when it's backing up their own gritty, oily, belly impulses. And lately it's all "law law law law law illeeleeleeleeleeGUL," and all the outrage falls upon people who are working and usually paying taxes and otherwise being just as good an American as anyone else—better often!

In this fake embrace of law ("klaw" would be a good word for this faKe loathing- or fear-inspired embrace of LAW), some allow themselves to overlook human dignity, health, rights, and respect. Who cares if they have rotting teeth and need help? Who cares if they are hungry? Cold? Abused? Used? Exploited? Unhealthy? Scared? Who cares if the kids wish they had more time with their parents, but their parents have to work all the time? And who cares if they live in FEAR. You know—all those things we claim we care about and want to keep from happening to PEOPLE, the Hating-on-Alienz crowd wants to bestow upon only LEGAL AMERICAN CITIZENS.

Now. What kind of humanity have you? What kind of human are you? Your empathy for your fellow human is folded up and slid inside a passport wallet? If I came across you on the road, bleeding, would you want me to check your citizenship status before helping? Oh yeah? And you think this makes you safe and your argument sound. But...

What if I have MY own code for empathy? What if for me, only those humans with green clothing on are worthy of my solidarity and care?

Sorry, bub! Enjoy the ditch! Enjoy the pain. You're an UNGREENER! You're a gross, vile, leeching, invading UNGREENER and I think you should get the hell off my green earth.

Is this the world these people want? Because in my estimation it is either empathy and human dignity and rights for ALL....or it's selective.

Victor M. Kenworthy, president of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 85, which represents the city's police officers, said national immigration policies and laws should be reviewed. But he said local law enforcement should not be prohibited from cooperating with federal authorities.
'That's a big sticking point for us,' he said. 'You have a local entity coming up with some type of legislation that says it doesn't recognize federal law. It's not a question of whether the law is right or wrong. We have to respect the law whether we like it or not.'

Firstly, Victor, it's not about the "Law" as events keep making obviously clear. If this were about the LAW, you'd be highlighting the fact that it is not local or state cops' duty to play migra, and in fact, it is the law that they NOT play migra.

In fact, city policy bars the police department from enforcing federal immigration laws and from inquiring about a person's citizenship status. The proposed legislation would extend that sanctuary policy to any agent, officer, employee, contractor or subcontractor of the city.

Ooop! There it is!

If the measure passes, Mount Rainier will join more than 30 other cities nationwide that have sanctuary laws in place, including Seattle, San Francisco, Albuquerque, Austin, Los Angeles and Madison, Wis.
The sanctuary movement took hold in the 1980s, inspired by churches that were helping Central Americans who fled civil war at home. Berkeley, Calif., and St. Paul, Minn., were the first two cities to adopt sanctuary laws in response. Takoma Park reaffirmed its status as a sanctuary city in October after its police chief asked for and was denied more leeway to execute immigration warrants.

—Mount Rainier Council to Vote On Becoming 'Sanctuary' City

Sanctuary. It's a blessed and beautiful word. And I stand with those who would offer shelter from the storm. And I would offer shelter from the storm. As I would hope others would shelter me, should a day come I should need it. In any land.

 The Unapologetic Mexican has been known to scribble a few things besides meandering, verbose, self-congratulatory blog posts. However, they are rarely as fun. Finally, let it be known that Nezua first dared bust out this Habanero of Truth at exactly 9:14 AM.  | Top | View blog reactions