 Despite recent blowback from the American people over so-called 'sanctuary city' policies, in which local officials conspire against federal immigration authorities to ensure that illegal immigrants are not rounded up and deported, other cities are working to implement similar policies, all while the Obama administration looks the other way and refuses to enforce existing immigration laws. Now, according to the The Gazette , activists in Iowa are working to turn Iowa City and Cedar Rapids into sanctuaries for illegal immigrants, just days after an undocumented migrant shot and killed a 32-year-old American woman in San Francisco, perhaps the original 'sanctuary city.' The migrant, 45-year-old Francisco Sanchez, had been deported five times and was in custody as recently as March, but San Francisco authorities released him, citing the city's policy. 'We want people to be able to participate in the community without fear,' Karla Stoltzfus Detweiler, a Mennonite pastor involved in requesting that Iowa City to officially ignore the illegal status of undocumented migrants, told the paper. So much for law and order Meanwhile, in nearby Cedar Rapids, the effort is emerging out of a class struggle, according to advocate Marlon Pierre-Antoine, a Haitian-American leading the sanctuary city movement there. 'The working class cannot win the struggle against the ruling class unless it is united,' said Pierre-Antoine, 20, an organizer for SocialistAction, a group that wants a world without borders and immediate citizenship for all immigrants. If one or both Iowa cities decide to defy federal law and become sanctuary cities, they would join some 200 other U.S. cities where progressive city officials have made similar choices [see map here ]. The map was part of a recent effort by the Centers for Immigration Studies to highlight the growing number of communities that have elected to essentially place their residents at greater risk of criminal action from people who are not even supposed to be in the country. 'More than 200 cities, counties and states across the United States are considered sanctuary cities,' CIS says on its web site . 'These state and local jurisdictions have policies, laws, executive orders, or regulations allowing them to avoid cooperating with federal immigration law enforcement authorities. These 'cities' ignore federal law authorizing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to administratively deport illegal aliens without seeking criminal warrants or convictions from federal, state, or local courts.' What makes Iowa so important to critics of sanctuary city policies is that the state is home to the earliest of election primaries; by allowing more immigrants, illegal and otherwise, to settle there undisturbed, eventually the demographics will favor the progressive socialists. 'One could also argue that any jurisdiction that provides drivers licenses, or welfare benefits, or public housing, or municipal ID cards is a sanctuary,' Jessica Vaughan, CIS director of policy studies, said, adding that would push the number to well over 300. Following the murder in San Francisco of Kate Steinle, 32, some lawmakers are recommending or pursuing legislative options such as cutting federal funding to sanctuary cities and instituting mandatory jail terms for repeat illegal border crossers. Just say no and Texas should lead the way But in the great scheme of things, too many 'opposition' Republicans won't fight President Obama on issues like amnesty for illegal aliens, or could not muster up enough support to overcome an expected veto of legislation cutting federal funds to such cities. The only real option, then, is to treat federal law like many other states and cities are doing: Ignore it and dare the administration to try selectively enforcing them. Texas, known for its independent streak, should lead the way. The Texas Legislature and Gov. Greg Abbott should immediately nullify all federal gun laws, ignore federal laws prohibiting recreational pot use like Colorado and Washington have done, wave off federal and Supreme Court rulings like the administration does and just dare the Obama regime to step in. No doubt, this vindictive White House would try to do so Obama's Justice Department has sued 'red states' often while ignoring wrongdoing in blue 'progressive' states but Texas could and should hold firm. And who knows? Maybe other states would do the same and join in with Texas. Lawlessness should never be the first option in a country that supposedly values law and order, but when an administration becomes so selective, so vindictive and even lackadaisical with the enforcement of federal statutes to the point where it is costing Americans their lives what other choice do states have? Sources: http://thegazette.com http://www.washingtonexaminer.com http://cis.org/Sanctuary-Cities-Map http://www.cnsnews.com http://www.powerlineblog.com 