American Civil Rights Union blasts sanctuary city policy

American Civil Rights Union blasts sanctuary city policy

The American Civil Rights Union contends it is unfair for cities like New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles to prohibit law enforcement officers from asking suspected illegal aliens the key question of whether they are in the United States legally. The ACRU, a group dedicated to protecting Americans' fundamental rights and liberties, says it sends the wrong message for U.S. cities to provide sanctuary to those who have come into the country illegally.

William Otis, director of legal affairs at the American Civil Rights Union, says illegal aliens are not the only ones ignoring the rule of law. "It's one thing for illegal immigrants to do it, and that's bad enough," he observes, "but for people in this country entrusted with enforcing the rule of law to walk away from it just sends a terrible message."

Otis says it is quite a serious matter when cities like New Haven, Connecticut, deliberately ignore U.S. immigration laws by providing sanctuary for illegal aliens, and when police officers in many cities are ordered not to inquire about the legal status of people they encounter.

"As serious as the problems of illegal immigration may be," the ACRU legal affairs director contends, "even more serious is the problem of officials in this country turning their back on the law."

Not everyone who comes into the United States illegally does so because of a desire to work hard for a better life, Otis points out. Recently, he notes, several crimes committed against American citizens by illegal aliens have been in the news headlines.