Sanctuary cities have been a hot-button issue in Trump-era politics. Conservative voices have complained about crime-ridden “Democrat cities” with illegal immigrants running rampant. So, in an act of true bravery, the New Hampshire State Senate has passed an anti-sanctuary bill to protect us from the thousands of illegal immigrants entering N.H. daily. However, one may wonder why.
The primary function of the bill, brought up by the sponsor Sen. William Gannon, a Republican from Sandown, is to ensure that law enforcement at all levels in the state comply with federal law enforcement. That is all well and good but was there really a concern in the first place? Does anyone actually think there was going to be some light bulb moment where N.H. became a sanctuary state?
I am all for regulated immigration with vetting processes and I am in favor of a pathway to citizenship for people who are here. I do not see how virtue signaling that you are a good conservative by sponsoring a pointless law does anything meaningful to the discourse.
A proper solution needs to come from the federal government, states cannot try and solve this on their own. The federal government has all the power in the world to do something regarding immigration, but there is no willpower, no desire. Immigration is just a talking point now; conservatives claim to be harsh border hawks willing to do anything to “stop the invasion,” and liberals claim to be these angels of humanity that want to help in any and all ways possible, yet here we are no better off than before.
The U.S. House recently had a Democratic bill regarding the border situation come up which ended up being a giveaway to Republicans and it failed spectacularly. We have a nearly $1 trillion dollar federal budget. Surely something meaningful could come out of that, but sadly our politics has devolved into pearl-clutching, finger wagging and virtue signaling, and for what? So some desk jockey in a suit can tow the party line and get re-elected? So some random dude can sponsor a bill in Nowhere, U.S.A. regarding a problem that has no substantial impact on the state?
The most dangerous feeling we can hold is the feeling of indifference. One can feel passionately about these topics, but our indifference gives these politicians, on all levels, license to do as little as possible. I would like to merely suggest that we as a people utilize our collective power and hold these politicians accountable again.
Timothy Fitzpatrick can be contacted at
tfitzpatrick@kscequinox.com
