Posted February 9, 2017 10:59 pm
By Amarillo Globe-News
Editorial: Playing politics does not help people
Here is a simple question for public officials in so-called "sanctuary cities."
If the true motivation for ignoring federal immigration laws is some sort of concern for the less fortunate and not political power, why risk losing money that funds many government programs that help the less fortunate?
Gov. Greg Abbott, following the lead of the Trump administration, recently withheld $1.5 million in grants from Travis County because the county refuses to enforce federal immigration laws. (For those with a lack of understanding, "grants" are taxpayer money.)
A recent headline on www .texasobserver.org described Abbott as being on a "crusade" against sanctuary cities and detailed how the governor is jeopardizing the welfare of women and those with drug abuse problems who benefit from government-funded programs. (The governor is on a crusade to get those whose responsibility it is to enforce the laws to do their jobs? Please.)
Those who consider this a crusade by the governor are evidently unaware that the previous presidential administration routinely threatened to pull federal funding to lower levels of government over such absurd things as failing to provide Uncle Sam’s version of a healthy school lunch or having the audacity to recognize science and biology when it comes to public school restrooms.
But we digress.
Here is the point: According to a recent report by openthe books.com, there are at least 106 sanctuary cities in America, and these cities received more than $27 billion in taxpayer money from the federal government in 2016. There were not any sanctuary cities identified in the Texas Panhandle or the western part of the Lone Star State, but a few cities in Texas were among the list, including Dallas, Austin and Fort Worth.
Like it or not, federal immigration laws are on the books. This is reality.
Public officials do not have the authority to pick and choose which laws are enforced. Dictators behave in such ways.
If the actual goal of those who support sanctuary cities is to help people who need help, why risk losing millions that pay for programs to help people? Do what is necessary through the political or legislative process to change laws.
Do not simply ignore laws — that is not how America works.
In other words, put your money where your mouth is and help people by not playing politics with taxpayer money.