Kerby Anderson

Ben Shapiro says it is time to ask some serious questions. The key question is whether we are safe anymore? Of course, it is a question we have been asking for years given the crime rate along with an open border.

He focuses his attention on the killing of 18-year-old Sheridan Gorman in Rogers Park in Chicago. As I have mentioned in previous commentaries, she merely tops the list of more than a thousand Americans killed by criminals here illegally. This expanding list illustrates why we need a robust debate about immigration policies, sanctuary policies, and public safety.

He focuses on sanctuary city and state policies. “Critics argue that policies limiting cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities can have serious consequences.” The sanctuary policy in Chicago restricts any coordination. That is why the suspect, who had been arrested previously, was not turned over to ICE.

“Supporters of stricter enforcement contend that more consistent cooperation could prevent repeat offenses.” That makes sense. If an individual is here illegally and commits a crime, he or she is much more likely to commit another one.

America may be divided on some of these policies. But anyone concerned about public safety should also be concerned about proper enforcement. Sanctuary policy supporters argue that “enforcement alone cannot address the root causes of crime and that policy responses must be broader in scope.”

We certainly can and should address the causes of crime, but that should not keep us from enforcing the law and making Americans safe. We shouldn’t even have to be asking the question, are we safe anymore?