Honestly, sometimes I just have to shake my head at the politics of all levels of government.
In the June 5 edition of The Chronicle was the front page headline “Lewis County included on federal list of sanctuary jurisdictions.”
Just below that was the notice that Commissioner Sean Swope would introduce a resolution that declares Lewis County as a “non-sanctuary” county.
I’m just not sure why a sanctuary list was generated in the first place, what difference being listed or not makes, or what a resolution would do. I suspect nothing, really.
The stated purpose, as I understand it, is to clarify our county's position; but in my view, it really doesn’t change anything, because, in effect, we are a sanctuary jurisdiction.
The state passed a law requiring we act like one, so we do.
I can tell you who was clarifying: the sheriff in Klickitat County, Bob Songer. He has publicly stated he will assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) if asked. He said his department will detain illegal aliens if the federal government needs him to.
Whether you agree with him or not, that’s what a clarifying statement looks like.
Our borders have been overrun for the past four years. Millions are here illegally, many, if not most, we know little or nothing about. And, most importantly, not all of them are nice people, and some are from countries that want to kill us.
Our governor says he doesn’t want Washington law enforcement involved in any enforcement effort, but he also doesn’t want ICE to enforce immigration laws, either. I’m pretty sure he can’t have it both ways.
So, millions came, were unvetted, not medically screened or vaccinated, and many receive benefits they are not entitled to. Some are very bad people, and even those deportations are opposed, with the tragic results splashed over the news far too frequently.
Somewhere in all this there has to be some common sense.
It's true that many, maybe most, have caused no problems. Some have been here for years. But it’s also true they knew they were here illegally and could be deported if they didn’t get right with immigration law. It's also true many have Social Security numbers, fake IDs and impact services for everybody. As states such as California are proving, it's costly.
But what about those who chose the legal path to citizenship and did it right? There is a difference, but they get overlooked.
Recently, enforcement of federal law has led to riots — not peaceful protests — in Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles and elsewhere by those upset by new federal policies. There has been a lot of violence on display, which isn’t good for anybody, with some promising to stop rioting only if the feds stop enforcing the law.
As a strategy, that’s stupid, even for liberals.
Protesters wave their Mexican and Palestinian flags while they burn ours, destroy property, assault cops and block streets. And there is evidence some agitators are being paid to be there.
In today's bizarro world, the rioters are hailed as the good guys.
We’re told we are a nation of immigrants, and that is true. But our immigrants came as settlers in America to become Americans. They assimilated and melted together as Americans and wanted to be American; not bring whatever they left behind in their country with them. The ideals that made America, won two world wars, and brought us together after 9/11 are hard to find today. Instead, too many people toss around names like Nazis and fascists at people they disagree with, but can’t define one or know what one is.
The rioters would be dead in the streets if that was remotely true and, actually, they are the ones acting like the names they call us.
There is a difference between illegal and legal immigration and there are laws defining what that means. Oh, the terms have been combined for political expediency, but they still exist.
There are standards for visiting our country, applying for a visa to visit, study or work here, and people promise to abide by the rules or they can be deported. Most countries have the same or stricter requirements. Being a gang member should be one of those, convicted violent criminals, child predators, traffickers, drug dealers — I could go on, but they are here. Our government let them in and many are fighting to keep them.
Of course, if ICE were allowed into sanctuary jails, it would be safer, easier and less expensive to get criminals out — but that is just common sense.
Sadly, common sense is in short supply, especially in Olympia and Washington, D.C.
Somewhere in all of this is an answer between illegal riots and legal immigration, but it has to start with our sovereignty and border protection.
I don’t know where that is just now, but I do know this — burning cars, harming cops, blocking streets and waving a foreign flag screaming “f–k America” isn’t it.
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John McCroskey was Lewis County sheriff from 1995 to 2005. He lives outside Chehalis and can be contacted at musingsonthemiddlefork@gmail.com.
