S.F. Sanctuary Sheriff’s Defeat A Small Victory for Justice



Kate SteinleVoters in San Francisco administered a small measure of justice for Kate Steinle by overwhelmingly defeating the sheriff who put a seven-time convicted illegal alien felon back on the streets, rather than turn him over to federal immigration authorities. Fortunately for Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, he only paid for his reckless disregard for public safety with his job. Kate Steinle paid with her life.

The stunning 61%-31% defeat of Mirkarimi also represents a stern rebuke to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, which just two weeks ago, unanimously reaffirmed their support for the sanctuary policies that led directly to Steinle’s murder. It was also a repudiation of the California Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown, which have implemented similar policies statewide.

The reverberations from yesterday’s decisive rejection of mindless sanctuary policies for illegal aliens by San Francisco voters should be felt nationwide. Ironically, just two weeks ago, the U.S. Senate rejected legislation that would have withheld certain federal funds to jurisdictions, like San Francisco, that openly defy ICE detainer requests for criminals held by police and sheriffs’ departments.

Even as California, San Francisco, and the U.S. Senate have refused to act to rein in dangerous sanctuary policies after the needless death of Ms. Steinle, there have been some hopeful signs that authorities in other states are recognizing the threat. Last week, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory signed H.B. 318, a bill that, among other things, bars sanctuary policies in the state.  Also last week, Texas Governor Greg Abbott warned that the state would take action to ban sanctuary policies if local jurisdictions do not cooperate with detainer requests from ICE.

In the aftermath of Kate Steinle’s death, her family openly called for an end to the sort of sanctuary policies that put her killer back on the streets. Yesterday, the voters of San Francisco responded to that plea. It is now up to politicians in San Francisco and across the nation to heed the Steinle family and voters from across the political spectrum to end policies that place a higher priority on protecting illegal aliens than protecting the security of the American public.

 

About Author

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Dan is the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR)'s President after joining the organization in 1982. He has testified more than 50 times before Congress, and been cited in the media as "America's best-known immigration reformer." Dan has appeared on virtually every significant TV and radio news/talk program in America and, in addition to being a contributing editor to ImmigrationReform.com, has contributed commentaries to a vast number of print media outlets.

6 Comments

  1. avatar

    Trump also deserves credit for bringing national attention to the MURDER of KATE STEINLE. The mainstream media deliberately ignores news that put Obama in a bad light.

    God bless President Trump … !!!!!!!!!

  2. avatar

    I live on SF and voted for Vicki Hennessy for sheriff, and not Ross Mirkirimk. He should be dancing the mockerana. He is iA pece of work,-and we are al thankful our city i safer again.
    I look forward to working woth rje new sheriff.

  3. avatar

    It says a lot about the popularity of sanctuary policies for illegals when voters in San Francisco, a city about as liberal as you can get, vote against sanctuary policies. More politicians from both parties need to start listening to the American people and protect Americans.

  4. avatar

    If even ultra liberal San Francisco voters can do this, it can be done anywhere. His opponent condemned him for the release of the illegal who shot. Kate Steinle. Let’s not forget that the very blue state of Oregon rejected licenses for illegals in a ballot measure that passed 2 to 1. That was after the legislature granted those licenses and there was a petition by groups to put it on the ballot for the voters to decide. Ballot petitions are something that need to be utilized more for immigration issues in the states that allow petitions. Once passed they can only be removed by the voters.