Like millions of others, I watched with interest the first—and possibly only—Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidential debate. One of the most important topics discussed was illegal immigration and how the Biden/Harris administration is allowing millions of illegal immigrants into the country.
If you are willing to flee your country and try to enter America illegally, things must be bad at home. Maybe there are no job opportunities, maybe the government has taken away your business, maybe there is a civil war, or maybe you are on the run from the law.
Since San Francisco is a sanctuary city, many illegal immigrants end up here. A sanctuary city is one whose municipal laws generally protect undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution, outside of federal immigration law.
Some of these illegal immigrants, like those from Honduras, have been arrested many times but continue to sell fentanyl on our city streets without consequences. This epidemic is a failure of both our political leaders and our liberal judges, who continue to acquit these criminals despite repeated convictions.
We need new leadership that will be tough on crime and illegal immigration. Allowing drug dealers and thieves to commit crimes over and over is not compassion or mercy; it is cruel to others.
Although in 12 years I have never overdosed, been shot at, or had my car windows smashed, I did experience a very costly incident that could have been for an illegal immigrant.
My Run In with a Possibly Illegal Immigrant
One day, I was driving my four-year-old daughter to swimming lessons when I came to a three-way intersection with stop signs. The car in front of me, an old Toyota Prius, had the right of way and started moving. As I moved forward to take my place at the front of the line, the driver slammed on the brakes in panic, causing me to collide with him. I was going less than 3 mph.
After he mustered up the courage to go forward, I followed him, and we both approached to look at the damage. I asked him why he stopped so suddenly when he had the right to leave, but he did not understand me. A Hispanic man nearby kindly translated for us.
He explained that he was startled when he saw the truck approaching the stop sign, even though it was his turn to go. He kept looking worried as we talked. When I asked if he wanted to change his insurance and ID information, he refused, probably because he didn't have them.
He pointed to his bumper and said ok. I checked mine and saw no visible damage. Then, I wondered if, despite his sudden stop, the accident was my fault, maybe it was caused by me from behind. Finally, I also thought about a friend of mine who recently experienced an insurance scam where another driver, despite being at fault, tried to sue my friend for $10,000.
$3,500 in Damages
We weren't on time for my daughter's swim session, so I agreed that everything was fine, and the woman seemed relieved before she left. But later, after swimming, I noticed a crack in my bumper. Wow. Stop betting.
I went to the dealer to ask about the cost of replacing my bumper, and they quoted me $2,700 before tax and labor. The final cost would easily exceed $3,500, so I decided not to fix it. Hooray for driving a nine-year-old car.
If someone can't speak English, doesn't have a government ID, and doesn't have car insurance (required by law in California), it's reasonable to assume they may be an illegal immigrant. He probably wouldn't have $3,500 to cover the expenses anyway if he was found guilty. If the law was involved, maybe he should have left the country.
In the end, my encounter with this illegal immigrant was a cost I had to bear, maybe because it was my fault. Fortunately, I can afford it if I decide to fix my bumper. But what if I can't?
The downside to the financial costs is the potential security costs
Beyond the financial cost, however, is the potential security risk, which I now see after reflecting on the situation.
What if, instead of a small risk, it was a violent encounter? What if a man came out with a knife in his car and stabbed me? It would not be right to leave my family without a husband and a father because of someone else's crime.
Next, I have to think twice before getting out of the car to face the danger, especially if the driver's side windows were as dark as his. In California, for front car windows, the tint must allow 70% light transmission, so 30% tint is the maximum. Hers had less than 30% electricity, meaning I couldn't see inside.
Please be tough on crime
In 2015, Kate Steinle was walking with her father in a busy area of San Francisco when she was shot and killed by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an illegal immigrant with seven felony convictions and five deportations. Despite this, Lopez-Sanchez was found not guilty two years later. WTF.
On December 31, 2020, Troy McAlister—a repeat offender—struck and killed two pedestrians, Hanako Abe and Elizabeth Platt. McAlister was arrested five times that year and served only 11 days in jail. His release was part of a plea deal brokered by District Attorney Chesa Boudin, which focused on reforming the justice system.
McAlister's acquittal, despite his criminal record, was shocking. San Francisco voters had had enough, and in June 2022, ~60% voted to recall Chesa Boudin. Brooke Jenkins has been appointed as the new District Attorney.
The recall raised hopes that San Francisco would finally take a tougher stance on crime. Then in November 2023, the city cleared the city to attend the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, showing that leaders can tackle crime and public safety—if they want.
Why Are Political Leaders Prone to Crime?
It is puzzling why some political leaders go easy on those who commit heinous crimes. Is it the guilt of doing wrong to the ancestors? Is it a misconception that people can always change after multiple arrests? The answer may be based on their personal backgrounds.
Chesa Boudin, Former San Francisco District Attorney
Chesa Boudin's parents were members of the radical Weather Underground. When Chesa was 14 months old, his parents left him with a babysitter to participate in an armed car robbery. The robbery left two policemen and the security guard of Brink's truck dead.
Boudin spent much of his life visiting his parents in prison, gaining a unique perspective on the criminal justice system. His parents were convicted of murder and robbery, but to Chesa, they were loving and kind.
No wonder he became an advocate for criminal justice reform. If he could not save his parents, he wanted to save others from the severe punishments his parents endured. The problem was, Boudin often seemed more sympathetic to the criminals than the victims.
London Breed, Mayor of San Francisco
After the sudden death of Mayor Ed Lee in 2017, London Breed became mayor of San Francisco in July 2018. Today, he faces criticism for being soft on crime, underfunding the police, and overseeing corruption. The November 2024 mayoral race is tough as people want change.
Breed's background may explain his situation. He grew up in low-income housing surrounded by crime.
Her brother, Napoleon Brown, is serving a 40-year sentence for the 2000 murder of Lenties White. In 2005, a San Francisco jury found that Brown pushed White, a 25-year-old mother of two, out of a car and into the street. on the Golden Gate Bridge while fleeing a robbery.
Breed says his brother has been treated unfairly by the justice system. He points out that because of California's Three Strikes law, Brown is serving twice the normal sentence for manslaughter and lesser crimes. However, last year he was caught with heroin at Solano State Prison, which resulted in two years being added to his sentence.
Naturally, the London Breed loves his brother, who will not try to rob or harm him. Given his personal connections, it is understandable why he might stop crime and avoid alienating some of his supporters. But he needs to put aside his bias and focus on the safety of the majority of San Franciscans who are not criminals.
Pro Legal Immigration
There is a long, arduous process to becoming a legal US citizen because it is important. We want people who respect our laws and play a positive role in society.
We cannot allow illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal histories, to flood our cities. Consequences will affect law-abiding citizens in a variety of ways—from minor incidents like unpaid fender benders to more serious crimes like theft, assault, and even murder.
Before I had a wife and kids, I didn't think much about illegal or illegal immigration. I have had many fights and I know how to defend myself. However, now that I am a husband and father, My family's safety is my priority as they cannot easily protect themselves. I hope that once elected, Harris or Trump will make security a top concern.
Foreign-born workers contribute greatly to our economy, but they should only be welcomed if they enter the country legally. We have many problems of our own to deal with already.
Student Questions and Suggestions
What is your opinion on illegal immigration? Why do you think the Biden/Harris administration wasn't tough on illegal immigration until an election year? Have you ever had a bad or good experience with an illegal immigrant? And what are your general thoughts on the presidential debate? What does law, order, and safety mean to you as an adult?
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