A Homeland Security funding bill has had an amendment attached to it by the House to withhold emergency aid from so-called “sanctuary cities sheltering illegal immigrants”. It passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 234-189. Fifty Democrats voted for the amendment which is meant to enforce collective punishment towards Americans based on a yet undeclared definition of what a “sanctuary city” is.

The passage was a major victory for Republican presidential candidate Tom Tancredo. “The issue has come to fruition,” Tancredo told The Rocky Mountain News. “The people of the country really have spoken. It’s a really good indicator of just how much closer to the people the House is than the Senate is.” However, Tancredo didn’t mention that he has failed to pass similar measures seven times since 2004. Perhaps that record is also a “good indicator” of what the people want. Sadly, conservatives like Tancredo and Bill O’Reilly continue to claim that their personal beliefs reflect those of most Americans, despite polls and common sense to the contrary.

Though the exact definition of what a “sanctuary city” is remains vague, Tancredo has given his own racist opinion of one such qualifying city in the past. While criticizing President Bush’s immigration policy last year he said, “Look at what has happened to Miami. It has become a Third World country. You just pick it up and take it and move it someplace. You would never know you’re in the United States of America.” He continued, “You would certainly say you’re in a Third World country.” Tancredo then went on to back up his supremist beliefs by citing the “Islamization of Europe” as the cause of conflict across the continent. Not surprisingly, Tancredo is also one of the three Republican presidential candidates who doesn’t believe in evolution.

The Homeland Security appropriations bill now moves on to the Senate. Due to the fact that immigrants are mainly concentrated in the nation’s largest cities, which are more prone to terrorist attacks, there are legitimate security concerns if conservatives cut security funding. New York City Mayor Bloomberg told the Senate Committee in July of 2006, “whatever the findings, let me be clear: The way to deal with this issue is not - not - by reducing the safety and security of our nation.”

On a related topic, the immigration reform bill, which was pulled from the Senate floor last week as Republicans blocked efforts to advance it to a vote, will resume in the Senate next week. A deal may be struck between Democrats and Republicans, including the consideration of about 22 additional amendments.

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