Like millions of others, I watched with intrigue the first—and potentially only—Donald Trump and Kamala Harris presidential debate. One of the most important topics discussed was illegal immigration and how the Biden/Harris administration allowed millions of illegal immigrants to enter the country.
If you’re willing to flee your country and attempt to enter America illegally, things must be dire at home. Maybe job opportunities are nonexistent, perhaps the government has confiscated your business, there might be a civil war, or maybe you’re even running from the law.
Since San Francisco is a sanctuary city, many illegal immigrants end up here. A sanctuary city is one whose municipal laws tend to protect undocumented immigrants from deportation or prosecution, despite federal immigration law. In general, illegals and legal cohabitate in peace here. We have a sort of “don’t ask, don’t tell” type of unspoken policy given we have a culture of helping all people live a better life.
However, some of these illegal immigrants, like those from Honduras, have multiple arrests yet continue selling fentanyl on our downtown streets without repercussion. This epidemic is a failure of both our political leaders and our ultra-liberal judges, who keep releasing these criminals despite their multiple convictions.
We need new leadership that will be tougher on crime and illegal immigration. Allowing drug dealers and thieves to repeatedly commit crimes is not empathy or compassion; it’s cruelty to others.
Although I haven’t overdosed on drugs, been shot, or had my car windows smashed in 12 years, I did have a potential costly encounter that was likely with an illegal immigrant.
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My Run-In With a Likely Illegal Immigrant
One day, I was driving my four-year-old daughter to swim lessons when I reached a three-way intersection with stop signs. The car in front of me, an old Toyota Prius, had the right of way and started to go. As I moved forward to take my place in front of the line, the driver suddenly slammed on her brakes in a panic, causing me to bump into her. I was going less than 3 mph, so this wasn’t some type of violent crash.
After she finally gathered the courage to drive forward, I followed her, and we both pulled over to check for damage. We were calm and I asked her why she had stopped so abruptly when she had the right of way, but she couldn’t understand me. A Hispanic man nearby kindly translated for us.
He explained that she panicked when she saw a truck approach the stop sign, even though it was her turn to go. She remained visibly anxious as we spoke. When I asked if she wanted to exchange insurance information and IDs, she declined. I then asked the translator why, and he mentioned she didn’t have any.
So be it. I didn’t press as undocumented immigrants in San Francisco are common and we weren’t getting anywhere.
She pointed to her bumper and said it was fine. I checked mine and saw no obvious damage either. Then, I wondered if, despite her sudden stop, the accident was my fault, which it very well could have been because I was behind. Finally, I also thought of my friend who just experienced an insurance fraud scam where the other driver, despite being the one at fault, tried to sue my friend for $10,000.
$3,500 in Damages
We were barely running on time for my daughter’s swim session, so I agreed that everything was fine, and the woman seemed relieved before driving off. But later, after swimming, I noticed a crack on my bumper. Ugh. What a bummer.
I went to the dealership to inquire 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 has no car insurance (it’s legally required in California), it’s reasonable to assume they might be an illegal immigrant. She likely wouldn’t have had the $3,500 to cover the cost anyway if she was found at fault. If the law got involved, maybe she would have had to leave the country.
Ultimately, my encounter with this person became an expense I had to bear, potentially because it was my fault. Fortunately, I can afford it if I decide to fix my bumper. But what if I couldn’t? What if the accident was completely her fault and it caused my car to be inoperable?
Worse Than Financial Cost Is Potential Safety Cost
Beyond the financial cost, though, is the potential safety risk, which I only now realize after reflecting on the situation.
What if, instead of a minor accident, it had been a violent encounter? What if a man had stepped out of his car with a knife and stabbed me? It wouldn’t be fair to leave my family without a husband and father because of someone else’s criminal behavior.
Next time, I need to think twice before getting out of the car to deal with an accident, especially if the driver’s windows were tinted black like her’s was.
In California, on the vehicle’s front side windows, tint must allow for 70% light transmission, so 30% tint is the legal maximum. Hers had less than 30% light transmission, which meant I couldn’t see inside.
I’m thankful everybody was alright and nothing came of the incident. There was no argument or shouting match of any kind. Just a desire to understand what happened and how to fix it. However, not everybody is so fortunate.
Tougher on Crime, Please
In 2015, Kate Steinle was walking with her father on a busy pier in San Francisco when she was shot and killed by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant with seven felony convictions who had been deported five times. 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 had been 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, focused on justice reform.
McAlister’s release, despite his criminal track record, was appalling. San Francisco voters had enough, and in June 2022, ~60% voted to recall Chesa Boudin. Brooke Jenkins was appointed as the new District Attorney.
This recall sparked hope that San Francisco would finally take a tougher stance on crime. Then, in November 2023, the city cleaned up downtown for the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference, showing that leaders could address crime and public safety—if they wanted to.
Why Are Political Leaders Soft on Crime?
It’s baffling why some political leaders go easy on those who commit heinous crimes. Is it guilt for ancestral wrongdoings? Is it the misguided belief that people can always reform after multiple arrests? The answer may lie in 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 armored car robbery. The botched heist left two police officers and a Brink’s truck guard dead.
Boudin spent much of his life visiting his parents in prison, gaining an unusual perspective on the criminal justice system. His parents were convicted of murder and robbery, but to Chesa, they were loving and kind.
It’s no wonder he became an advocate for criminal justice reform. If he couldn’t save his parents, he wanted to save others from the harsh sentences his parents endured. The problem was, Boudin often seemed more empathetic towards the criminals than the victims.
London Breed, San Francisco Mayor
After Mayor Ed Lee’s sudden death in 2017, London Breed became San Francisco’s mayor in July 2018. Today, she faces criticism for being soft on crime, defunding the police, and overseeing corruption . The November 2024 mayoral race is tight as people want change.
Breed’s background may explain her stance. She grew up in low-income housing surrounded by crime.
Her brother, Napoleon Brown, is serving a 40-year sentence for killing Lenties White in 2000. In 2005, a San Francisco jury found that Brown had pushed White, a 25-year-old mother of two, out of a car into traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge while they were fleeing a robbery.
Breed argues that her brother has been treated unfairly by the justice system. She points out that due to California’s Three Strikes law, Brown is serving double the usual sentence for manslaughter and lesser crimes. However, last year he was caught with heroin at Solano State Prison, which resulted in an additional two years being added to his sentence.
Naturally, London Breed loves her brother, who would never try to rob or harm her. Given her personal connection, it’s understandable why she might be more lenient on crime and avoid alienating some of her supporters. But she needs to put her biases aside and focus on the safety of the vast majority of San Franciscans who are not criminals.
Pro Legal Immigration
There’s a long, arduous process to become a legal U.S. citizen because it matters. We want people who respect our laws and contribute positively to society.
We cannot allow illegal immigrants, especially those with criminal histories, to overwhelm our cities. The repercussions will impact law-abiding citizens in various ways—from minor incidents like unpaid fender benders to more serious crimes such as theft, assault, and even murder.
Before I had a wife and kids, I didn’t think much about illegal immigration or lawlessness. I’ve been in plenty of fights and know how to defend myself. However, now that I’m a husband and father, my family’s safety is my top priority since they can’t protect themselves as easily. I hope that once elected, either Harris or Trump will make safety a top concern.
Foreign-born workers make significant contributions to our economy, but they should be welcomed only if they enter the country legally. We have too many problems of our own to deal with already.
Reader Questions And Suggestions
What are your thoughts on illegal immigration? Why do you think the Biden/Harris administration wasn’t tougher on illegal immigration until an election year? Have you ever had a negative or positive experience with an illegal immigrant? And what are your overall thoughts on the presidential debate? How much does law, order, and safety mean to you as you’ve gotten older?
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