Only American citizens can protect America. It is our responsibility to demand politicians and our senior law enforcement do their job. Their job is that which they have sworn an oath to do. Namely, that is protecting America and most importantly protecting our children.
Responsibility
The citizens of America must demand our media report the news based on facts and evidence. Their personal political agendas are commentary, not news. There is a difference, the distinction must be clearly stated.
Sanctuary
Sanctuary is a political movement. It is a collection of jurisdictions. These cities, counties, and states have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices obstructing immigration enforcement. In doing so they shield criminals from ICE.
They do this by refusing to or prohibiting agencies from complying with ICE detainers. The jurisdictions are imposing unreasonable conditions on detainer acceptance. They are denying ICE access to interview incarcerated aliens. The jurisdictions are also impeding communication or information exchange. They do not allow their personnel and federal immigration officers to cooperate.
A detainer is the primary tool used by ICE to gain custody of criminal aliens for deportation. It is a notice to another law enforcement agency that ICE intends to assume custody. It includes information on the alien: criminal history, immigration violations, and the potential threat to public safety or security.
Federalism
America is constituted on a system of federalism. The Constitution sketches a federal framework. The framework aims to balance the forces of decentralized and centralized governance. It gives certain responsibilities to the federal, central government. All others are reserved to the states or the individual.
In America all rights belong to the individual. Individuals grant to the government certain portions of what belongs to the individual. The quid pro quo in the exchange is that for what is given up a duty is owed by the government. The government has nothing but promises to give in return.
Our constitution does not flesh out standard operating procedures. It does not say with exactitude how all possible policy contingencies are to be handled. The founding documents, Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights are a framework of values and principles. To the extent we are faithful to the values and principles the system works.
Political Change
Elected officials have taken advantage of this opportunity. That is true at the local, state and national levels. There is room to maneuver as they operate within the Constitution’s federal design. This has led to changes in the configuration of government over time.
The changes correspond to different historical political movements. As various political movements came to control positional authority they made adjustments to the operating procedures of government. Thus there has been a shift in the balance between state and federal authority.
There was one abrogation of fealty to the nation. It resulted in the Civil War. When political jurisdictions defy the nation they set in place a confrontation. America has been a nation of laws. All citizens are to receive protection under those laws.
Conclusion
When that is no longer true the state of the union becomes precarious. Sanctuary places greater value on non-American individuals economic well being above the national security of the citizens of the United States. Sanctuary does not respect health considerations, criminality, or any other term or condition of American immigration law. Only the American citizen can protect America.
