On Mayor Berry, City Council and saving Albuquerque from being a Sanctuary City

In response to the reality that Mayor Berry has put forth in terms of guidelines for persons arrested in Albuquerque and their immigrations status, politicians on the city council see opportunity:

Two Albuquerque city councilmen are trying to strike down Mayor Richard Berry's new illegal immigration policy.

City Council President Ken Sanchez and Councilman Rey Garduno are proposing a resolution that commands the city to cease the guidelines immediately....Garduno and Sanchez said the mayor is overstepping his boundaries. The councilors, who weren't notified of the new policy until Thursday, said the mayor needed to either issue an executive order or get the city council to approve the policy.

"For anybody to say I can do something like this, without having to go through the process, is just not understanding what the whole idea of democracy is all about," Garduno said.

Both Garduno and Sanchez disagree with the mayor's comments that Albuquerque was "sanctuary city" for before the policy went into effect.

"I have lived here my entire life and Albuquerque is not a sanctuary city," said Sanchez.

In response to this nonsense I wrote a letter to both councilors, copying each other councilor and the Mayors office:

Mr. Sanchez and Mr. Garduno,

I have read in the news that Monday, 17 May 2010 you plan to sponsor a resolution to attempt to halt Mayor Berry’s policy of having federal agents check the immigration status of every person arrested in Albuquerque. The stated reason, according to news reports is that you worry the guidelines will do more harm than good by creating a silencing effect among victims who want to report a crime.

I believe that you are incorrect in your claims and are in fact overstepping your bounds in regard to what Mayor Berry has issued as guidelines. As simply a general policy in regard to the city detention center, Mayor Berry as city executive is entitled to this decision. This is not legislation or an ordianance and is a policy that serves the best interests of the community at large. It is difficult to imagine that people are terrified to report crimes because they are worried that a criminal will be deported.

Mr. Sanchez is quoted in regard to the issue as follows: "I have lived here my entire life and Albuquerque is not a sanctuary city,". I believe that you are willfully ignoring this very important issue Mr. Sanchez. I have also lived in this city my entire life. Several years ago my Grandmother was forced to move from her home of more than fifty years in the North Valley in no small part thanks to policies put in place by Martin Chavez making it a sanctuary for illegal immigrant drug criminals. There are more than several known drug dealers near what was once her home. All of them are known to be in this country illegally.

It is my hope that the other members of the council thoughtfully consider the issue and work with Mayor Berry on making this city a safer place for its legal residents instead of misunderstanding the issue and making power plays, as Mr. Garduno said; "For anybody to say I can do something like this, without having to go through the process, is just not understanding what the whole idea of democracy is all about," Please reconsider your position and withdraw the resolution immediately.

I am curious in regard to any response. I will that and discuss if anything comes back.