Statement: Why We Must Uphold Our Sanctuary City Policy

Statement by Supervisor Joel Engardio
San Francisco Board of Supervisors meeting
February 28, 2023
Resolution upholding San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy.

Why We Must Uphold Our Sanctuary City Policy

I support the resolution to uphold San Francisco’s sanctuary city policy and want to explain why:

Being a safe city and a sanctuary city are not mutually exclusive. Both are possible. We have to be careful not to conflate two different issues. Our sanctuary city policy does not stop us from prosecuting drug dealers.

I believe we should arrest and prosecute drug dealers and people who commit crimes. That can and should happen regardless of their immigration status. We should be focused on providing the police and district attorney the resources they need to make arrests and prosecute lawbreakers period.

We must also uphold San Francisco’s commitment to be a sanctuary city. This is an important concept for public safety because it allows undocumented residents to report crimes and testify as witnesses without fear of deportation.

The sanctuary city concept is sacred and we should not weaken it. Being a sanctuary city does not stop us from arresting and prosecuting anyone who breaks the law.

I also agree with this resolution because it urges the Department of Homeland Security to extradite the two individuals sought for criminal prosecution by our District Attorney as soon as possible. They need to be brought to justice. But we should not have to pass an ordinance to bring these criminals to justice.

We faced a similar situation in 2019. The federal government first said we needed to make an exception in our sanctuary city law before they would extradite a rape suspect. The city reluctantly agreed. Then, before the board officially voted on the draft ordinance, the federal government extradited the suspect without us taking any action. 

If the feds can extradite a suspect then, they can do it again. In San Francisco we must hold criminals accountable. I urge the Department of Homeland Security to do its job and extradite the people accused of such heinous crimes in our city.