Mayor Berkowitz caught pushing sanctuary city tactics

By
Suzanne Downing
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39
511

WATCH THE VIDEO AND DECIDE FOR YOURSELF

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz was videotaped at the U.S. Conference of Mayors recently asking questions of immigration experts about how Anchorage could be more proactive in protecting illegal immigrants from federal immigration authorities.

He asks the experts, “In terms of DACA, in terms of Dreamers, in terms of making sure that we are providing every possible legal protection to people who might otherwise be subject to federal immigration authority.”

The experts explain that Berkowitz, a committed Democrat, can always sign on as an amicus (friend of the court) on existing lawsuits, but that’s not satisfying to him. Berkowitz explains he wants to take a more proactive approach in protecting illegal immigrants from the law.

“But I mean those are done in a defensive posture where you are relying on existing constitutional law,” Berkowitz argues. “Is there something proactive that we can…” his voice trails off as Avideh Moussavian, of the National Immigration Law Center, tells him how her group can help him develop model policies for Anchorage.

Here’s the explosive video of Anchorage’s mayor looking for ways to expand the definition of “welcoming city” during a time when crime is at historic highs, when unemployment is climbing, and when citizens are being asked to cough up more in the way of taxes to pay for declining services:

If only Mayor Berkowitz had this level of commitment to fighting crime in Anchorage.

 

39 COMMENTS

  1. Talk about pandering to a group. Must be election time and since he can’t run on his record…….

  2. Mr. Berkowitz needs to explain his comments. Does he believe that the Municipality of Anchorage should be seeking to thwart efforts to enforce immigration law? Which of those efforts does he support? Does he believe that Anchorage is or should be come a “sanctuary” city?

    Does he intend to tip off those living in Anchorage in violation of federal law to enforcement efforts, as was recently done by the mayor of Oakland, California?

    Does he believe we need to add more workers to the existing population that already is suffering from very high unemployment rates?

    The Mayor needs to explain his thinking to this community.

  4. Hey Spendo-Nothong To Report, Anchorage IS NOT A SANCTUARY CITY. NO MATTER HOW MUCH YOU WISH IT TO BE!

  5. Berkowitz is no different than Obama in using executive orders in making Anchorage Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants. I have no problem with immigrants legally entering the US but I firmly believe that they must go through the naturalization process before being given rights as US citizens. The sanctuary City status should have been voted on by the people of Anchorage not by berkowitz’s special executive order. I do firmly believe that our Spike in criminal activity is directly in proportion to the individuals that have been allowed to enter the United States and Anchorage in particular illegally. Just look at the names of those that are being charged with major crimes in our city they are not local names and indicate to me that they are truly foreigners. Yes I can be criticized for being a racist but by God this is my town I was born and raised here and I don’t want illegal immigrants in my city committing crimes, taking jobs away from alaskans, and demanding the right to vote. This is wrong and we have Berkowitz to blame for it.

  6. This guy needs to get voted out of office and move to California. His priorities are totally removed from most of the populous. If he gets voted back in all Anchorage deserve what you get. Good point on the crime bite

  7. 40,000 veterans homeless, 1-4 citizens unemployed and this is the priority for the Democrats. Remember these “immigrants” have cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and could care less. There is an estimated 800,000 DACA recipients in the US. That is 800,000 jobs American Citizens don’t have or will be in competition for. There not all picking strawberries they take great Jobs. Good enough jobs to buy homes put their kids through college. So when you hear of the “contributions” by illegal aliens paying taxes. Remember that also is at a cost in jobs citizens should have.

    Some of the costs associated with illegal immigration, we will pass this burden on to our children as has been passed on to us. We’ve been paying this for decades.

    *The CBO (congressional budget office) estimates it will cost American taxpayers 26 billion over the next 10 years if 1.8 million re legalized.

    *The cost of educating illegal aliens children is staggering. From K-12 it costs taxpayers $122,000 for EACH illegal alien student. This does not include the billions spent on bilingual education for illegal aliens.

    *Currently city, and state officials are appropriating millions of taxpayer dollars for legal fees to to file law suits and in defense of illegal aliens being deported.

    *2012 illegal aliens sent home $62 BILLION in remittances back to their countries of origin. This is why Mexico is getting involved in our politics.

    *30% percent of all Federal Prison inmates are illegal aliens. Does not include local jails and State Prisons. At $21,000 per year expense per inmate in Federal Prison—U do the math.

    *$3Million Dollars a DAY is spent to incarcerate illegal aliens, I repeat 3 MILLION a DAY to process Illegals in the Criminal justice system.

    *$2.2Billion dollars a year is spent on is spent on food assistance programs such as SNAP (food stamps) WIC, & free school lunches.—All can be found on google.

    https://www.newsmax.com/…/uscis…/2018/01/22/id/838627/

    http://www.illegalaliencrimereport.com/…/man-who-shot…/

    http://www.ojjpac.org/memor…;

    • What is going on in California has to be understood from a historical perspective.
      California is a former territory of Mexico, and there were huge populations of Asian people prior to it becoming a possession of the US.
      California is the number one crop producing state in the Union. Farmers pay 13-18/hr, but this is not enough to attract a workforce other than a migrant workforce.
      The majority of migrant workers are hard working, and tax paying workers. They pay state, local , and federal taxes. They purchase homes, and other goods and services.
      I encourage Alaskans to come to central California and see for yourself.
      I just think we need to reflect on our thoughts on this. If we run the migrant worker out of the farming industries the cost of these items will make living in Alaska next to impossible. We need to approach this issue with compassion, not politics.

      • Your comment is meaningless when you fail to distinguish between ‘legal’ and ‘illegal’ migrants…..

        • Exactly. And cut the unemployment and welfare to those able to work and send them to the farmers to work.

  8. This should be the last straw and result in the ouster of this Mayor. But I’ll bet my next paycheck this guy is re-elected. Conservatives in this town would rather moan and complain about the Mayor/Assembly than organize and kick them out. The few seconds of Berkowitz speaking in the referenced video would make a dynamite campaign commercial for Logan. Will she do it?

    • Mark, you are absolutely correct re conservatives complaining and too lazy (aka too busy) to do much of anything. Seen it for years.

  9. Oh because you were born here it gives you special rights over others. Almost all Alaskan residents respect the inherent rights of human beings. Guess some do not.

    • Where does it say that all people have a right to live in the United States? By your logic, the homeless have a right to live in your house. I’ll let them know.

  10. So…
    An open meeting in gow ti break the law ?.

    That’s wonderful!!!

    We truely are being governed by criminals?

  11. So…
    An open meeting in how to break the law?!
    THAT’S JUST WONDERFUL!!!?

    We truely are being governed by criminals?

  12. LOL at all the feigned outrage expressed here. I look forward to Ethan’s second term. I guess you missed the part where he was explicitly asking about the Dreamers.

    Do Republicans even read what they write?

    Cheers!

    • Sorry, that isn’t what he says at 0:25 of the clip – he expands it beyond “Dreamers” to anyone subject to enforcement of the immigration laws. Did you actually listen to the clip? But don’t let the truth get in the way of your argument.

    • I guess YOU missed the part where he said, “Dreamers, DACA, whatever”. He was talking about ALL illegals. Do you even listen when people speak??

    • Yeah, let’s ask the Democrats why they no longer want to come to the table with DACA. Yep, they’re not to be seen unless they can use it as a bargaining chip.

  13. Oh, this is interesting, is the Mayors wife still connected to the Immigration non-profit in Anchorage? The Alaska Institute for Justice she cofounded?

  15. I sincerely hope you Anchorites dont keep this guy in office. He doesn’t have any interest in you, just himself.

  17. Berkowitz needs to be cuffed and marched off to prison. There is no SANCTUARY city as defined by a liberal facist such as Berkowitz .. They only create OUTLAW cities. On every level the liberal facist such as Berkowitz is violating the law by protecting real LAWBREAKERS. 63,000 Americans have been MURDERED by illegals in America since 9/11. That doesn’t even address the Drug Trafficers .. think opioids, thieves , rapists, human sex slave traffickers , fraud schemes ………. I hope the President does something quickly to stop this UNLAWFUL and insane behaviour by the facist mayors around our country who are a threat to our national security by Defunding this OUTLAW Cities and indict the mayors responsible .. starting with Berkowitz.

  18. I live in Oregon. We miss Alaska. But since we’re here we get to watch this sanctuary issue tearing Oregon apart. There is currently a petition drive to put a measure on the ballot to repeal the law that sanctuary status officials hang their hat on. I’m hopeful it will qualify for the ballot.

    Several years ago the voters rejected a measure to give illegal (not legal) immigrants the ability to obtain an Oregon Driver’s license. Despite that rejection the Oregon legislature (heavy dem majority) passed a law this year that oks it and prohibits state employees from verifying documents provided by people to support their drivers license applications by contacting federal immigration officials. Why? Because of our law that prohibits any local or state official from spending state funds on immigration enforcement. Remember, time is money, government employee pay. See how that works? It’s really got nothing to do with a 10 minute phone call to INS. Afterall its ok for a local or state official to call the FBI or Secret Service if they believe they are looking at a counterfeit $100 bill using local tax payer funds. Common sense has left the building folks.

    This is a political agenda that tramples the rule of law & our concept of state-federal law & the cooperation of government/law enforcement at all levels because some people don’t like certain federal laws. Once you can pick & choose which legitimately originated laws you want to follow & which you choose to disregard thats the road to anarchy.

    The local politicians & activists will dance around this & say we’re still in compliance with federal law but they really are doing everything possible to conspire against it. If federal law needs to be changed that is the job of Congress. If they won’t change it because they don’t have the votes then there’s your answer & thats what you’ve got.

    Of course, the final extreme solution, if a state finds federal law unacceptable would be to secede from the union then states can make all the immigration law they want. Might cause a civil war in the process but maybe thats what some people really desire.

    Finally on that point that in California farmers can’t find people to work the fields at $13-$15 an hour? If I were unemployed and needed the funds I’d sure consider it since my job right now at a grocery store pays $10.95 an hour. And for legal immigrant farm workers thats great if they can be employed doing that…with the key word being legal & no visa overstays without going through the legal process.

    The US is being cited for its cruel immigration rules. We’re somehow alone against a world where no boarders is the norm and things are run differently. Well, jump in your car & drive to the Canadian boarder maybe into Yukon or BC. Tell the customs agent your going to Whitehorse to look for work. You may not be crossing the boarder that day or if you do your passport will be logged in and you’ll have a strict specified time you can remain in Canada.

  19. Anchorage has been a sanctuary city for years but back in the 70’s though it required the status of political asylum. Illegals should not have the right to just show up and stay ahead of those who have gone through the correct process! I remember a Herman businessman who was married, had children and got deported for overstaying his visa and not doing the right thing. He had been in Anchorage for 20+ years. But Berkowitz is not good for this city; he’s totally failed!

    • With respect, short of a military coup, there’s no quicker way for you to seize generational control of a city government than by gaining control of its voting system and importing future voters who depend on you for their livelihoods –and lives.

      • I believe that the new Vote by Mail system is the Municipal equivalent of the SAP program. Flawed from the beginning through and beyond the “Go Live” date.

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