San Francisco Reaffirms Immigration "Sanctuary" Status

Apr. 20 - KGO (KGO) -- San Francisco police chief Heather Fong re-asserted San Francisco 's status as a sanctuary city. That means local police will not assist federal agents in arresting illegal immigrants.

The chief's comments come just as the Feds are fully engaged in a crackdown on immigration fugitives.

San Francisco community activists say more and more immigrants won't call police when they are victims of a crime.

They're afraid they, or someone they know, will end up being deported for being undocumented. They are well aware of a national crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Lenora Melgarejo, community activist: "What I hear from testimonies from people every day when I talk to them is that constant fear of actually making that phone call to the police because it's not clear in the minds of people yet that the police isn't collaborating with ICE."

Heather Fong, S.F. police chief: "We are here to protect all people who live or work or visit San Francisco."

Police Chief Heather Fong says her officers do not assist federal agents in immigration sweeps. That's because the city has what's known as a sanctuary ordinance. The city has a law which put limits on police cooperation with immigration agents.

The chief hopes crime victims will not be afraid to call, even if they are undocumented immigrants.

Heather Fong, S.F. police chief: "Often times we have seen that individuals who do not speak the English language or individuals who do not feel that they can report, they are being preyed upon by members of their own community and that's not acceptable."

Rick Oltman, Californians for Population Control: "There is no provision of the U.S. constitution or in federal law for any type of sanctuary from immigration law enforcement."

Rick Oltman says San Francisco is an example of government anarchy, and his group plans to ask the state and U.S. Attorneys General to see if the city is breaking federal immigration law.

Rick Oltman, Californians for Population Control: "So long as the law is on the books we should insist that citizens obey the law, immigrants obey the law, and certainly elected officials and governments obey the law."

President Bush has called for an overhaul of the immigration system. He's proposing a plan that would expand the temporary worker program but force illegal immigrants to return to their home country, re-apply to enter legally and pay a $10,000 dollar fine.

The Senate is slated to take up the issue next month.

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