Several days ago, we issued a blistering editorial on East End officials passing legislation prohibiting their workers from coordinating with federal officials wishing to rid the area of criminal illegal aliens.
More and more liberal elected officials, even on Long Island, are seeking to pander to their far-left base to protect and harbor illegal aliens and to demonize federal law enforcement officials.
But there is a beacon of light shining on the east end. Riverhead Councilwoman Denise Merrifield pushed back against the former chair of Riverhead‘s Anti Bias Task Force, who wanted to steer the task force in the direction of fighting back against deportations.
The councilwoman, who is the task force’s liaison, objected, noting that the purpose of the task force is to monitor events where individuals are being discriminated against in a specific manner.
She boldly declared that the deportations are not discrimination. She’s 100% correct.
Following the law and deporting someone who is not properly here, especially when they’ve committed a subsequent crime, is the furthest thing from discrimination. It is simply following the law.
Nothing would prohibit the task force from investigating a specific allegation where a person, including an illegal immigrant, complained about being discriminated against. But it is pure folly to suggest that the broad issue of deportations amounts to discrimination.
Good for Merrifield, a former prosecutor, in standing up for common sense.
She should expect a huge pushback from the liberal media and radical illegal immigration lobby, including the far-left group OLA. Newsday gives huge credibility to this illegal immigrant advocacy center, as it has given credibility to the now -discredited Southern Poverty Law Center.
These groups seek to paint illegal aliens as victims and law enforcement as demons.
Stay strong, Councilwoman Merrifield.