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 News from Around the Americas | October 2006 
US Border City Declares Itself Sanctuary for Illegal Immigrants
 AFP
| | Immigration rights activists take part in a rally to proclaim National City a "Sanctuary for Immigrants" 30 September 2006 in National City, California.(AFP/Getty Imaes/File/Sandy Huffaker) |
A southern California city on the Mexican border declared itself a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, prohibiting local authorities from collaborating with federal immigration officials.
City council members in National City, a small city five miles (eight kilometers) south of San Diego on the Mexico border, made the decision late Saturday, infuriating some 200 protesting "Minuteman" border protection volunteers, who called for the deportation of Mayor Nick Insunza.
"This is an example which sets a precedent that can be followed by other cities in the United States, even if it is a symbolic proclamation, because we know that Nick Insunza will be leaving office in November," said Ron Morrison, a city council member.
The move came two days after the US Congress approved the construction of a 700-mile (1,125 kilometer) wall along the border, over which tens of thousands of mainly Latin American illegal immigrants pass each year.
The wall is opposed by advocates of an easier immigration policy but backed by many who want a crackdown on illegal immigrants, whose numbers are estimated to be more than 11 million in the country.
Among other things, the council declaration orders that National City authorities must avoid using municipal funds to collaborate with federal immigration officials who want to stop the influx of migrants from the Mexican side of the border. |
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