Posted on April 7, 2006

SF Officials Oppose Pending Immigration Legislation

KTVU (San Francisco), April 6, 2006

SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and other city and community leaders Thursday denounced immigration legislation being considered in the U.S. Congress, and vowed to oppose any law that would criminalize assisting illegal immigrants.

“San Francisco stands in strong opposition of the rhetoric coming out of Washington, D.C.,” Newsom said.

{snip}

If HR 4437 becomes law, San Francisco’s law enforcement agencies will not seek to enforce the new criminal classifications related to immigration status, according to a resolution passed by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

In 1989, a “city of refuge” ordinance was passed in San Francisco to prohibit the use of city funds to “enforce the civil provisions of federal immigration law,” the supervisors’ resolution states.

In February, Newsom re-affirmed the city’s commitment to the ordinance, calling San Francisco a “sanctuary city.”

{snip}