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Illegal Immigrant Crime Victims Should Not Fear Seeking Help

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 2, 2007

In Miami last month, Colombian immigrant Carlos Cruz Gallego testified against a man accused of beating him with a piece of re-bar. After his testimony, authorities detained Gallego for being in this country illegally, leading immigration advocates to howl in protest.

It turns out that Gallego is no choir boy. He had two aggravated felony convictions for possession of cocaine and grand theft. He'd been arrested in March for overstaying his nonimmigrant visa, but was out on bond to testify.

Still, advocates say his arrest sent a terrible message to illegal immigrants. That is, if you're a crime victim, don't tell the police or they will deport you.

It's easy to argue that illegal immigrants should be arrested whenever they brush up against law enforcement, no matter the reason. After all, our immigration laws will become irrelevant if not enforced.

But the issue is more complicated when it comes to crime victims, which is why some Republican presidential candidates are stumbling all over the issue of "sanctuary cities" without offering clarity for voters.

Frontrunners Shed Heat, Not Light

Most Americans do not want to see immigrants - even illegals - treated unfairly. If an immigrant woman is robbed at gunpoint while waiting for the bus, she should be able to report the crime and testify in court. Anything less would give rise to criminals preying upon illegal immigrants and grow crime in our communities.

Yet neither do most Americans want immigration laws ignored. They understand that illegals - who are often poor, uneducated and unable to speak English - can tax public services.

Playing up the anti-immigrant sentiment, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney accuses Rudy Giuliani of running a "sanctuary city" when he was mayor of New York.

Indeed, in a 1996 speech quoted last week by New York Times columnist David Brooks, Giuliani declared: "There are times when undocumented aliens must have a substantial degree of protection." They must feel safe sending their children to school. They should feel safe reporting crime to the police.

"Similarly, illegal and undocumented immigrants should be able to seek medical help without the threat of being reported."

For his part, Giuliani accuses Romney of having governed a state where four communities had "don't ask, don't tell" policies. He also suggests Romney should have known an illegal immigrant was working for the lawn-care company that did business at his home.

In a meeting last week with the Tribune's editorial board, Romney was asked whether illegal immigrants should be able to report crimes committed against them. "I certainly would want a person to feel they could come forward and report crime. At the same time, I believe we're a nation of laws and we should expect people to abide by the laws of this country."

Which is it? His answer didn't clear things up.

Find A Measured Balance

The best answer seems to lie in those Massachusetts communities with a "don't ask, don't tell" policy, an approach that has worked regarding gays in the military.

Such a policy increases the odds that the police can get the violent offenders - the greater threat to the public - off the streets. Truth be told, even in communities with tough immigration stances, only illegal immigrants with criminal records or warrants are generally detained and turned over to federal authorities.

While not sanctioning illegal immigration, a "don't ask, don't tell" policy recognizes the legal, human and moral aspects of each case.

Candidates should know that citizens see a big difference between giving a crime victim a little leeway and adopting "sanctuary" policies that ignore immigration laws.

And more than catch phrases, voters want to hear the solutions.

On this measure, on this issue, the Republican frontrunners have come up short.

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