The dangers of sanctuary cities have been documented before, but a new study reveals yet another risk of "sanctuary” policies. The research from the Immigration Reform Law Institute (IRLI) shows that since 2014, sanctuary jurisdictions across the country have been shielding criminal aliens who come from terrorist-sponsored nations. "At least 25 state and local law enforcement agencies refused to honor ICE detainer requests for aliens from countries that the United States considers sponsors of terrorism," says Dale Wilcox, IRLI executive director.
In particular, the research found 44 criminal aliens from terror-sponsored nations were protected by the 25 "sanctuary" jurisdictions over a 27-month period. About 90 percent of those aliens are from Iran, while others are from Syria, Sudan and North Korea. "Of these individuals, the majority of them were wanted by ICE for threat level 1 and 2 offenses," says Wilcox. "We're talking about homicide, kidnapping, sexual assaults."
In recent years, efforts by the Trump Administration and states like Texas to crack down on sanctuary cities have met with resistance from liberals and their allies in the courts. Wilcox tells KTRH that nothing will change until people make their voices heard to all lawmakers. "More pressure needs to be put on these sanctuary cities," he says. "Congress needs to get its act together and needs to cut off funding to sanctuary cities."
The IRLI study also found that there are more than 10,000 illegal aliens living in the U.S. who are from countries designated as state sponsors of terrorism. "Sanctuary cities are neither humane nor compassionate, they only put Americans at risk," says Wilcox. "They're dangerous."