Cudahy's Irresolute Sanctuary City for "Immigrants"?

During its first meeting of 2015, the Cudahy city council enacted a new resolution, one which recognized the municipality as a "sanctuary city."

The language of this release is confusing. The document routinely calls for protecting immigrants, yet immigrants by the very definition of the term are legal residents. Is the city interested in protecting legal residents? That pledge should not require a resolution. Does the city want to protect illegal aliens? That assumption must be the case, since

RESOLUTION NO. 15-01
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF CUDAHY DECLARING THE CITY OF CUDAHY
A SANCTUARY CITY FOR IMMIGRANTS

WHEREAS, the City of Cudahy ("City') has a strong tradition of embracing and valuing diversity and respecting the civil and human rights of all residents regardless of their immigration status; and

No one is opposing human rights, although political realities dictate that the privileges and resources for expressing these rights must be limited. No nation can permit unfettered, unlimited immigration. Opponent of illegal immigration demand secure border precisely to protect our American culture and way of life. The United States rests on a foundation of defending human rights -- natural rights -- because of a limited, contrarian form of government which resists power in the concentrated hands of few at the expense of everyone else.

Most countries, and their native populations, do not understand these values, and teh challenges which every country  faces to enact and enforce these values. One of many essential rights rest on distinctions, boundaries -- borders. Without nations, without those dividing lines, the very diversity and security which Cudahy councilmembers claim to respect -- would not exist.

WHEREAS, most immigrants in the City are law abiding citizens and are themselves the victims of crime, and the City wishes to foster trust and cooperation with its immigrant communities and wishes to encourage immigrants to report crime and speak to the police without fear of being arrested or reported to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement ("ICE") agency; and

The linguistic double-talk begins at the outset. There are legal and illegal immigrants. The distinction is no small matter. Millions of people throughout the world flee their home countries precisely because there is no rule of law. Rogue agents of the state and unrestrained cartels on the street and in city hall do what the please. Business owners cannot thrive where there is no safety, where enforcement is non-existent. I have heard terrible stories from legal immigrants who now reside in the United States, and the common thread of their accounts coils around the rampant criminality, corruption, and lawlessness of their home countries.

How does Cudahy intend to provide a safe community for residents, when the city embraces the very destructive tendencies which migrants are fleeing?

WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to affirm and declare that the City of Cudahy is a Sanctuary City for immigrants from all countries.

How about defending the natural-born and naturalized residents in the cities?

BASED UPON THE ABOVE RECITALS, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF CUDAHY, CALIFORNIA, DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

SECTION 1. The City Council hereby affirms and declares that the City of Cudahy is a Sanctuary City for immigrants.

Which ones? If they are legal, what difference does it make? If they are in the country illegally, then they need to leave.

SECTION 2. No department, officer or employee of the City of Cudahy shall use any City funds or resources to assist in the enforcement of federal immigration law
or to gather or disseminate information regarding the immigration status of individuals in the City unless such assistance is required by federal or state statute, regulation or court decision.

Excuse me? Once again, the legal double-talk is striking and stifling. How can any city expect to care for anyone if they have neither regard nor respect for federal law? A city should cooperate with federal authorities at all times in connection with public safety. Always.

City of Cudahy

SECTION 3. The prohibition set forth in Section 2 above shall include, but shall not be limited to:
(a) Assisting or cooperating, in one's official capacity, with ICE investigation, detention, or arrest procedures, public or clandestine, relating to alleged violations of
the civil provisions of the federal immigration law.

(b) Assisting or cooperating, in one's official capacity, with any investigation, surveillance or gathering of information conducted by foreign governments, except for
cooperation related to an alleged violation of City and county, state or federal criminal laws.

What? Anyone who resides in the United States illegally is committing a crime. Every action they take, whether filling out job applications or applying for federal assistance, all depends on criminal behavior.

(c) Requesting information about, or disseminating information regarding, the immigration status of any individual, or conditioning the provision of services or
benefits by the City upon immigration status, except as required by federal or State statute or regulation, City ordinance or public assistance criteria, or court decision.

There is no good reason for not knowing the legal status of any individual. This resolution is the most irresolute I have encounted.

(d) Including on any application, questionnaire or interview form used in relation to benefits, services or opportunities provided by the City, any question regarding immigration status other than those required by federal or state statute, regulation or court decision. Any such questions existing or being used by the City at the time this Resolution is adopted shall be deleted within sixty days of the adoption of this Resolution.

SECTION 4. Nothing in this Resolution shall preclude a City department, commission, officer or employee from reporting information to ICE or assisting and/or cooperating with ICE as required by federal or state statute, regulation or court decision.

SECTION 5. If any part of this Resolution, or the application thereof, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this Resolution shall not be affected thereby, and this Resolution shall otherwise continue in full force and effect. To this end, the provisions of this Resolution, and each of them, are severable.

Let's define clearly what the city means by "immigrant." Let's also find out why city leaders believe that legal  residents should fear ICE or federal law enforcement.

PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Cudahy at its regular meeting on this 6th day of January, 2015.

Final Reflection

Cities are for citizens and legal residents. Period.

Sanctuary belongs to those who live and respect the rule of law. Any city which refuses to cooperate with federal authorities, particularly ICE, should lose funding and recognition until otherwise. Any city council aiding and abetting illegal immigration should be recalled immediately.

More citizens in California, of all backgrouds, must rise up and push against this lawless insanity.

Contact the City of Cudahy and its city council. Tell them to revoke their sanctuary city status and protect legal residents in their communities:

Cristian Markovich
Mayor, City of Cudahy

cmarkovich@cityofcudahyca.gov
323-773-5143 ext. 302

Term: April 2015 - April 2019
California Fair Political Practices Commission Forms

Appointed Committees:
Los Angeles County Sanitation District
Eco Rapid - Secretary 
Book Fair Ad Hoc Committee
Cudahy Youth Leadership Ad Hoc Committee
Beautification Ad Hoc Committee
Successor Agency Ad Hoc

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Christian Hernandez
Vice Mayor, City of Cudahy

chernandez@cityofcudahyca.gov
323-773-5143 ext. 305

Term: April 2015 - April 2019
California Fair Political Practices Commission Forms

Appointed Committees:
League of California Cities
California Contract Cities Association
Gateway Cities Council of Governments Board of Directors
Casino and Gaming Ad Hoc Committee
Senior Citizen's Commission Ad Hoc Committee

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Chris Garcia
Councilman, City of Cudahy

cgarcia@cityofcudahyca.gov
323-773-5143 ext. 301

Term: April 2013 - April 2017
California Fair Political Practices Commission Forms

Appointed Committees:
League of California Cities Los Angeles Division
Southeast Regional Forum
Clara Park Expansion Ad Hoc Committee
Farmers Market/Swap-meet Ad Hoc Committee
Contracts Ad Hoc Committee

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Jack Guerrero
Councilman, City of Cudahy

jguerrero@cityofcudahyca.gov
323-773-5143 ext. 229

Term: April 2013 - April 2017
California Fair Political Practices Commission Forms

Appointed Committees:
Pension Reform

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Baru Sanchez
Councilman, City of Cudahy

bsanchez@cityofcudahyca.gov
323-773-5143 ext. 303

Term: April 2015 - April 2019
California Fair Political Practices Commission Forms

Appointed Committees:
Gateway Cities Council of Governments I-710 EIS/EIR Project Committee
Hub Cities Consortium
Greater Los Angeles County Vector Control District