Well, with that massive caravan of illegal aliens reaching the U.S, California becoming a sanctuary state, the Department of Justice’s lawsuit against that law, and the Orange County Sheriffs Department and San Diego County joining the DOJ lawsuit, immigration is very much in the news, despite the non-stop activity emanating from the Trump White House. We have reports that a new bill to fix the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program has at least 218 votes in support. Across the river, Democratic Virginia Governor Ralph Northam has vetoed a bill banning sanctuary cities. Yet, let’s not forget that Northam promised to sign such a bill if it came to his desk a week from Election Day last year (via WAVY):
Gillespie has also hit Northam for casting a tie-breaking vote on the State Senate floor against the ban on sanctuary cities in Virginia, and Gillespie was surprised to learn from 10 On Your Side that Northam is actually opposed to sanctuary cities.
Gillespie was quick to point out, "That is inconsistent with his answers in the debate, and the vote he cast on the floor of the State Senate."
10 On Your Side asked Northam if he were Governor would he sign a bill to ban sanctuary cities in Virginia. "If that bill comes to my desk, Andy, I sure will (sign it). I have always been opposed to sanctuary cities, and (Gillespie) knows that."
So, what happened? Well, Northam is a Democrat; that’s what happened. Also, it’s sort of hard to take what the media considers as a hardline stance on immigration in being against sanctuary cities when you signed off on a horrible ad that portrayed white people are truck-diving, Confederate-flag-waving homicidal maniacs who lust to run over Asians, Muslims, and Hispanics. The Latino Victory Fund doled that out, but, as Phil Kerpen noted, it was a "coordinated, in-kind contribution” for the Northam campaign. Northam also tried to tie Republican gubernatorial candidate Ed Gillespie to the white nationalist protest in Charlottesville, Virginia through a highly controversial flyer. The Richmond Times-Dispatch said it was “practically libel,” while The Daily Progress, a Charlottesville-based paper, torched Democrats for exploiting their pain for political points. I mean if your fingerprints are on an ad like this, there’s no way you can be for enforcing our immigration laws in a way that’s meaningful:
In a statement following Northam’s veto, Rep. Dave Brat said:
Public safety should be an easy priority for Americans to rally around. Lax enforcement of our immigration laws has failed the American people by creating safety risks.
“There are large swaths of the American homeland that are in open defiance of federal law. Sanctuary cities provide safe harbor to illegal immigrants, which presents a problem because we do not know who is living there. In numerous cases, like the case of Kate Steinle, illegal aliens who have been repeat offenders find haven in these cities and cause more violence and death.
“This bill would have helped restore law and order to Virginia. I am extremely disappointed Gov. Ralph Northam would needlessly put Virginian families at risk to score political points with his extreme left base.”
Also, there might have been the calculation from Northam that Democrats would control one or both houses of the state legislature, making this issue a moot point. Well, as it turns out, the GOP retained control by a coin toss no less. Democrats made huge gains in the House of Delegates, which could flip during Northam’s tenure, so maybe he’s just treading water, hoping his broken promise just fades away.
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