The idea that California's sanctuary laws are good for its Hispanic communities is wrong, as they are also being "terrorized and criminally hurt" by laws that allow criminals to remain in the United States, Rep. Darrell Issa said Friday.
"People are dying," the California Republican told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "Literally, there is blood on the hands of the people who are causing criminal aliens to be released, knowing they will rob and murder again."
Issa represents California's 49th congressional district, which includes western San Diego County, and commented that the district covers areas with "a high Hispanic population that aren't rich and they live in fear of these gangs.
So the idea that this is, 'good for immigrants,' it is just the opposite. It is the immigrant communities and the Hispanic communities like Oceanside that are being terrorized and criminally hurt by these bad practices."
Sanctuary cities started out as not permitting law enforcement to ask a witness what his or her status was, said Issa, but now, laws allow a criminal to be released, no matter even if they are an "undocumented alien."
"You look and say why?" said Issa. "What is the basis for it? And so my sheriffs in my counties and most sensible counties are begging their elected officials to push back on the state law."
Californians are revolting against the idea, said Issa, and just because people in San Francisco aren't hitting back doesn't mean there isn't a revolt in San Diego.
"The closer you get to the border, the more quiet Democrats are," said Issa, who represents California's 49th congressional district, including western San Diego County.
"The San Diego County Board of Supervisors, three million plus people, just voted to basically join [the Trump administration's] suit and push back on the governor, because we are the border county right up against the Mexican border," he added. "By the way, San Diego County was the first county to have that border wall decades ago. It has proven that it works."
Issa also said he finds it "amazing" that Gov. Jerry Brown wants money to help crack down on deadly MS-13 gang violence, while also allowing criminals to be released back to the streets.
"You can't have it both ways," said Issa. "You can't say you need help from the feds to deal with criminals and then release them knowingly, which we're doing in a number of ways in California."
Issa also commented on the memos released by former FBI Director James Comey, saying he believes many of the 15 pages read like "a draft of a book."
Also on Friday, Issa spoke out on reports that former Attorney General Eric Holder could be running for president in 2020.
"He is the only constitutional officer to be held in contempt from an administration ever, and he did so for lying to Congress and telling us that there were very few documents left to be discovered and then withholding them," said Issa. "He is going to have a very hard time having people vote for him when they realize how he obstructed justice while he ran the Department of Justice."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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