The city’s updated sanctuary city policy — in which undocumented youth are now referred to immigration authorities for deportation only when convicted of a felony — survived leaked memos, threats of federal lawsuits and a mayoral veto to become law today.
But after all that, the law’s author — Supervisor David Campos, who was himself an undocumented youth (though not a felon) before he was a Harvard-educated lawyer — fears that nothing will change.
The mayor does not get to decide what laws he or she implements, or fails to implement.Those charged with carrying out the law, including Mayor Gavin Newsom, expressed no interest in doing so prior to its passage, and haven’t done so since.
That rubs Campos raw.
“We have a strong mayor system of government, but it is not a monarchy,” Campos said during Tuesday’s Board of Supervisors meeting. “The mayor does not get to decide what laws he or she implements, or fails to implement. I simply request once again this mayor do his duty and comply with the oath of office he took and implement the law.”
Later, Campos said that he’d received no word from either the Mayor’s Office or the Juvenile Probation Office — the latter of whom would be doing the future referring or not referring of illegals to immigration authorities — that they’d instructed city officials to change their policies to fit the new law. Likewise, by late Wednesday: nothing.
Granted, San Francisco’s sanctuary city policies already violate federal law (but then again, so do cannabis clubs). And last week, U.S. Attorney Joe Russoniello said in a letter local officials — though he did not specify who — could face charges, perhaps criminal charges, if they enforced the new law.
The Appeal attempted to contact the city’s Juvenile Probation Department for clarification. Several telephone messages seeking comment have yet to be returned. Ditto an e-mail (admittedly sent late Wednesday) to mayoral spokespeople, who in the past have said it is Newsom’s intention to not enforce the ordinance.
The Appeal asked Campos if he would be happy to pursue a “wait-and-see” approach.
“I don’t want to wait until I see (undocumented youth) deported” in violation of current city law, he said.
