Supervisor David Campos was surrounded by reporters and supporters Tuesday following an historic vote mandating undocumented youth be tried and convicted in a court of law before being handed over to Federal immigration authorities for deportation proceedings. Photo by Luke Thomas.
By Luke Thomas
November 13, 2009
San Francisco Supervisor David Campos won an historic veto-proof victory Tuesday for undocumented youth arrested on suspicion of committing a crime.
The due process amendment to the city’s Sanctuary Ordinance mandates undocumented youth first be convicted of their alleged crime in a court of law before being referred to Federal immigration authorities for deportation proceedings.
The legislation was opposed by Supervisors Sean Elsbernd, Michela Alioto-Pier and Carmen Chu, each appointees of Mayor Gavin Newsom.
Newsom said he will not implement the veto-proof amendment sparking threats of legal action to force Newsom to comply with the new law.
Newsom violated State law when he performed same-sex marriages in 2004 leading insiders to speculate Newsom’s opposition to Campos’ legislation was politically motivated by his (now-aborted) run for governor.
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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The Hunger Site
November 24, 2009 at 10:11 am
In a post above, Tami says:
“History will judge us on how we treat these vulnerable youth and their families.”
According to many press reports, international drug cartels, operating out of Mexico, are infiltrating youthful immigrant gangs in the U.S. The cartels use young male immigrants as their operatives to deal drugs and commit violence. The cartels are now active in California and Texas and other states.
The drug cartels commit horrible acts of violence, including torture, assassination, and acts of terrorism. They buy off politicians. They organize political demonstrations on their behalf.
In Mexico, the cartels have created a counter-state, with its own army, that is now waging war on the Mexican government.
You don’t see a public-safety issue here?
November 22, 2009 at 2:52 pm
This is righteous legislation. Unfortunately, there is opposition from some in city government, and those are politicians that I will never support ever again. Now, we HAVE to bring back the youth detained by Nazi ICE in other states. History will judge us on how we treat these vulnerable youth and their families.
November 13, 2009 at 11:01 am
Check this out:
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/crime/detail?entry_id=51529&tsp=1