Four Repercussions from Sanctuary Cities that are being discounted and the doctrine of “unintended consequences.” This is not a question of compassion, but rather following the law.
1. Abrogation of the Rule of Law.
When government has a law on the books, and those in power with the responsibility to enforce those laws ignores some laws and follows others, it sets the wrong example for citizens and immigrants alike by denigrating respect for authority and creating a standard that the individual is above the law that applies to the many and that anyone can ignore a law they do not like.
When a law is ignored and people, much less a subordiante government ignores the law as binding authority, then you will have a recipe for chaos and confusion. The sanctuary city becomes a safe zone for illegals and a magnet for those who are already willing to violate the laws of the country they wish to gain citizenship for their own self interest.
Without a rule of law we are not a nation. Chaos, confusion, and coup come mind.
2. Disruption of the Federal System.
The federal government provides financial aid to local government law enforcement in the form of grants. A little comity and cooperation when a violator is found and turning the illegal over to the proper authorities is a good thing and not a bad thing.
Just another breakdown in authority, and yet local governments are found to be releasing and letting illegals go with impunity. Heck… in Louisville the county attorney has a policy against reducing speeding tickets to a lesser charge, and yet there are cities and counties in the US who are letting felons escape through the back door of the courthouse while ICE comes in through the front.
3. Taxation without representation.
If aid in the form of government benefits are provided to those in this country illegally, then who is paying for these benefits and where is the money coming from?
Tax dollars is the usual source to pay for the health insurance, school construction and services, law enforcement, etc. Taxes are raised to address these additional costs which are hidden in the budget since the students are not identified but caused by decisions of a few without the input from the many. This is typically positioned as a compassion issue by some for these students and their families, but let us not forget that there are families here following the law, paying their taxes, and have financial concerns over providing food and shelter for their children.
Let us not forget that taxation without representation was a big deal a few years back when King George had his way with those darn colonies to pay not just for the French and Indian War in America but also in the European theater and fill the coffers in London!
4. Activist Federal Judges Making Law to uphold sanctuary cities and shoot down immigration guidelines.
Federal judges are required to follow the law as it stands. Our three branches of government centers on a legislature, executive and judiciary. It works because each branch does what it is supposed to do and not overstep its bounds. The legislature makes the laws, the president executes/enforces the law, and the judiciary interprets the law as written without legislating from their lifetime bench seat.
Judges are appointed and not elected. They are NOT to make law based upon their own political views or in favor of the party that put them on the bench.
Judges are NOT to agree with their classmate from Harvard who became POTUS and appointed him to the bench in Hawaii.
Judges are NOT to ignore the law as written.
They follow the law – the letter of the laws or executive orders since the documents should stand on their own merit and NOT campaign rhetoric. A party platform has been compared to a statement you may run on to get elected but never stand on while serving in the office. Just words for crying out loud. The words and actions upon elected are what matter and not discerning of motives by the use of tea leave and a crystal ball.
There are more repercussions from what is know as the law of intended consequences. But ignoring them does not make them go away. Adding to the deficits, spending what you do not have, and ignoring safety/security over these other concerns are not without consequences. Not every budgetary item is the highest priority, and each item has its own share of zealous advocates and lobbies to appease.
And a fifth consideration that could/should go without saying is that increased demand on these public services may result in less services being provided as hard choices are made in a world of limited resources or increasing our national debt.
Fewer cops, soldiers, and EMTs.
Less educational opportunities for your children and grandchildren in an already burdened system with fewer teachers, crowded classrooms, more testing with less talking.
Less money on infrastructure.
And there is a private burden to on our medical system with hospitals treating those who will be off the grid and not pay.
Rule breakers and rule breaking will result in a drasting realignment of priorities. And we need to make some hard choices to avoid writing checks that we AND our children and their children cannot cash. Adding to our national debt a burden for our children to carry for our inability to rein it in today is neither compassionate nor a solution. It is cruel.