ICE took to Facebook this week, posting a photo of one of their black SUVs parked on a Chicago rooftop, along with this caption:
“CHICAGO: a sanctuary city that attracts and protects criminal illegal aliens to the detriment of law-abiding citizens. In an ICE-led operation, we are here to remove these dangerous public safety threats from American communities.”
At first glance, the post looks tough and decisive. But strip away the rhetoric, and what’s left is the same recycled fearmongering that has fueled ICE’s mission creep for years. The agency wants Americans to believe that sanctuary cities like Chicago are magnets for crime. The facts tell a very different story.
What Sanctuary Really Means
Chicago’s sanctuary policies do not give violent offenders a free pass. What they do is prevent local police from acting as ICE deputies in routine cases. City resources aren’t diverted into immigration dragnets, but if someone is convicted of a serious crime, ICE still has full authority to act…