Huckabee hammers ‘Democrat policies’ that have created sanctuary cities — but conservative Iowa counties have them too

July 9, 2015 7:00 am·
(Prezography photo)

(Prezography photo)

By The Iowa Statesman

 

In a statement to press yesterday afternoon, Republican presidential candidate and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee railed against “Democrat policies that have created sanctuary cities.” He reinforced the need to “address the growing problems with illegal immigration.”

He also pointed out the recent murder of of San Francisco resident Kate Steinle, who was allegedly killed by a five-time deported illegal immigrant, “never should have happened” and blamed “reckless policy” for her death.

“The horrible policies that have created sanctuary cities are a symptom of President Obama’s broader policy decision to ignore existing laws and issue radical unconstitutional executive orders that provide amnesty to the most dangerous illegal aliens,” he said. “What most people don’t realize is that existing laws provide more than enough leeway for the Executive branch to get the illegal immigration crisis under control.”

Huckabee said that as President, he would take the following actions:

  1. Ending Obama’s Catch and Release policy.  This would increase arrests, detentions and deportations of illegal aliens, particularly those who have joined gangs and committed serious crimes against Americans.
  2. Using all powers of the presidency to deny federal funding to sanctuary cities and work with Congress to do the same.
  3. Designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
  4. Securing the border in the first year of my term.
  5. Reversing President Obama’s unconstitutional executive amnesty.
  6. Making sure that left-wing activists in the immigration courts no longer undercut enforcement of immigration laws.”

A recent report from the Center on Immigration Studies, however, shows 24 of Iowa’s 99 counties have “sanctuary” policies that their sheriff’s departments will not honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers unless a judge has approved the move with a probable cause warrant. These counties span the entire state and include some of the most “conservative” areas of Iowa, such as Sioux, Monona, Montgomery, and Fremont counties.