US border town shelters illegal aliens

Crossposted from Right Truth:

From The Brunei Times (Update: The Brunei Times article has been taken down. You can find the information at the International Hearld Tribune

Mayor declares Southern California city 'sanctuary' for illegal immigrants
The Associated Press

Published: September 30, 2006
NATIONAL CITY, California The mayor declared this small city just a few miles (kilometers) from the Mexican border a"sanctuary" for illegal immigrants.

Mayor Nick Inzunza made the proclamation Saturday at City Hall as a few hundred supporters rallied on the sidewalk outside, said police Lt. Lanny Roark.

Backers were met by a smaller group of anti-illegal immigration protesters, including members of the Minutemen civilian border patrol group, Roark said.

The rallies were "loud and tumultuous" but peaceful, he said. There were no arrests.

As a result of the declaration, city funds will not be used to enforce federal immigration laws. The city already practices the policy, but Inzunza said he wanted to underscore that fact.

"The mayor is sending the message that migrants are welcome in the city, which is one of the most diverse in San Diego County," said Enrique Morones of the group Border Angels, who advocated for the proclamation. "We want the whole country to see that this is a pro-migrant gesture and it's just the beginning. We're pushing for
this nationwide."

Other California cities have similarly named themselves sanctuaries, including Maywood, Pomona, Huntington Park and Coachella.

Inzunza irked some members of the city council when he announced his plans during a radio interview earlier this month. The council members were upset he didn't discuss the proclamation with them.

The mayor said he didn't need council approval since he's not enacting any new laws, only reaffirming the city's current practice.

The Minutemen denounced the mayor's decision and made a proclamation of their own.

"We proclaimed National City as an anti-sanctuary," said Jeff Schwilk, founder of the San Diego Minutemen. "We think our proclamation is more in line with the opinion of the people. We welcome all legal immigrants, but we're not in favor of any city being a sanctuary for illegals."

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