By Steve Levy
Earlier this month, a federal judge ruled in a lawsuit brought by a liberal not-for-profit group claiming that the county should not have the ability to hold illegal aliens for a 48-hour period so that the feds can haul them away. https://abc7ny.com/post/suffolk-county-fights-back-federal-government-says-owe-60-million-assisting-ice-detain-650-people/15779438/
What’s worse, is the court ordered Suffolk County residents to pay $60 million in damages to the illegal aliens. Simply OUTRAGEOUS!
Back when I was Suffolk County executive from 2004 to 2011, I created quite a stir in being one of the first elected officials to take the issue of illegal immigration seriously. I thought it was insane that some people could come over here illegally, commit crimes and not be deported thereafter. I believed it was our duty to cooperate with the federal government in their efforts to meet up with illegal immigrant prisoners at the expiration of their jail time so they can be deported, rather than placed back on our streets. It was a commonsense measure to protect our residents and a sense of fairness in the system.
One would think it’s a no-brainer, but we came under tremendous pressure and pushback from the illegal immigration lobby, which was comprised of numerous left-wing not-for-profit groups, the liberal press, and various virtue-signaling politicians. Even the vast majority of moderate officials who agreed with our logical measure were leery to express support for fear of being labeled by the media and the illegal immigration lobby as being anti-immigrant and anti-Hispanic. It was total nonsense, of course, but that kind of intimidation worked against many.
Then Sheriff Vincent DeMarco and I held our ground and, thus, we became one of the few local communities in our state to try to work cooperatively with the federal government to rid our streets of criminal illegal aliens. Yet, our crazy system seeks to punish local governments for trying to crack down on illegal immigration and keep our streets safe. On the other hand, a swath if sanctuary cities have been rewarded and encouraged by a vast swatch of leaders in various states and cities.
Coordination between the feds and the county should be encouraged by the courts. But even if such cooperation were deemed flawed, why should county taxpayers foot the bill for damages? (Why any compensation should be given to an illegal alien criminal is beyond belief.) Immigration falls primarily under federal jurisdiction, so how can Suffolk be penalized for acquiescing to a federal outreach for assistance and coordination?
If damages have to be paid, it should be done so through the feds, not the county. County officials are angry and will hopefully appeal so that no taxpayers will have to pay a dime to murderers and rapists who were simply held so they could be deported.
It’s just remarkable that we continue to see some elected officials around the state and nation promoting policies that betray the American citizens they are sworn to represent. While the average Long Islander opposes illegal immigration, their state leaders are giving the illegal border crossers free legal services, as well as free tuition to our colleges and sanctuary status.
One can be very encouraging of promoting more legal immigration, while at the same time opposing the illegal variety. The only way to stop illegal immigration is if leaders stop promoting it.
County officials should continue the fight to reverse the court decision eliminating the detainers by Suffolk County. Let’s hope we can bring sanity back into the equation.
Steve Levy is President of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County Executive, as a NYS Assemblyman, and host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.” www.SteveLevy.info, Twitter @SteveLevyNY, steve@commonsensestrategies.com