Kenney
Joe DeFelice, executive director of the Philadelphia Republican Party, is questioning Mayor-elect Jim Kenney’s views on Syrian refugees and illegal immigrants.
Last year, Mayor Michael Nutter issued an executive order barring cops from cooperating with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Now, he reportedly is considering lifting that ban for illegal immigrants charged with serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery, domestic violence, illegal firearms possession and involvement in terrorism.
A Kenney spokeswoman indicated that he supports keeping Philadelphia a so-called “sanctuary city.”
As for the case of Syrian refugees, Kenney stated last week in a news release, “I applaud Gov. Wolf’s decision to work with the federal government to properly screen and resettle Syrian refugees in Pennsylvania.”
“The irony here is that while Kenney is willing to work with the federal government to screen refugees, he is unwilling to work with the federal government after illegal immigrants have been arrested in Philadelphia,” DeFelice said. “If one of these refugees commits a crime in Philadelphia, will he work with the federal government to deport them or just release them to the general public?
“Philadelphia cannot get out its own way. We have many pressing issues facing this city, such as sky-high taxes, failing schools, rampant corruption and unsustainable programs. Just this week, we saw money wasted on Council staffers that are no longer needed, new unnecessary cabinet-level positions and pallets of unopened wi-fi equipment that has sat idle for years, yet we plan to allow noncitizens to flood our borders and utilize our resources. While we are sympathetic to their plights, these feel-good initiatives come with a price. And guess who is going to have to foot the bill again? That’s right, the overtaxed and overburdened citizens of Philadelphia. We need to start taking care of our own citizens before we can be the world’s dumping ground.” ••
