California is about to become a so-called sanctuary state. What does that mean?
It means California will refuse to help federal agents deport people who came here illegally but are staying out of trouble and contributing positively to the state.
But it means ratting out the bad guys to the feds — the convicted robbers, killers, drug traders and other assorted criminals.
“If you’re a violent felon, we don’t want you in this country,” says state Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles). “Whether you’re from Ireland or Korea, it doesn’t make any difference.”
Most of us, however, would like to do more than merely boot violent felons back to their native lands. We’d also like to send packing thieves, narcotics peddlers and a lot of other scum.
That was achieved in the sanctuary state compromise forced by Gov. Jerry Brown in negotiations with De León. Brown, as usual, was treading a narrow middle course.
The governor told NBC’s “Meet the Press” in August that “we want to be very understanding of people who have come to our state, have worked in our economy often for decades, picking our food, working in our restaurants, working in our high-tech industry…”
But, he added, “You do have people who are not here legally. They’ve committed crimes. They have no business in the United States in the manner in which they’ve come and conducted themselves subsequently.”
The measure still must pass the Legislature before it adjourns for the year Friday. And it will.
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