Houston to get petition on sanctuary status for illegals

Houston Chronicle:

The phrase "sanctuary city" does more than rally anti-illegal immigration activists and make city officials cringe — it causes confusion.

The Houston Police Department for more than a decade have followed a policy that forbids them from asking people they encounter about their immigration status. But does that make Houston a "sanctuary city?"

The long-standing debate intensified this week when a group called Protect Our Citizens launched a petition drive to require a citywide November vote on the police policy.

Members of the group say the policy protects illegal immigrants to the point that it qualifies Houston as a "sanctuary city."

A report by the Congressional Research Service reached the same conclusion.

But some immigration lawyers say the HPD policy acts only as a limited form of protection for illegal immigrants, without giving them complete immunity, as the word "sanctuary" implies.

"A city that's a sanctuary means that there are no consequences, no effects, no taking into account the immigration status of the individual," said Isaias Torres, a Houston immigration attorney.

Protect Our Citizens, which hopes to collect 20,000 signatures before Sept. 1 to get its initiative on the ballot, wants an amendment to the city charter that explicitly would allow city police to enforce immigration laws, though it would not require them to.

Under existing policy, officers can only inquire about the immigration status of people accused of other violations.

City officials adamantly reject the "sanctuary" term, saying "sanctuary" means never asking certain questions or turning illegal immigrants over to federal authorities.

Local police are allowed to hand over suspects charged with crimes to immigration authorities. Federal law makes residing in the country without proper documentation a civil offense in most cases, not a criminal violation.

''Houston is not a sanctuary city," said Mayor Bill White. "The biggest concern on something like this is somebody trying to confuse the voters."

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It sounds like the people who are not serious about enforcement of immigration laws are trying to confuse voters and that the mayor is on the side of confusion. There is no good reason not to ask the question and not turn turn violators over to the immigration enforcement authorities. Every citizen has an obligation to report a crime he sees. If they do not, the rule of law breaks down and violations increase. That is what has happened on immigration. When people who are in the country seek services at the hospital or whereever, they should receive treatment, but they should also be asked their status and if they are here illegally they should be turned over to immigration authorities. The same goes for other services such as school.