L.A. as a sanctuary?

Is Los Angeles some kind of “sanctuary city” for illegal immigrants? People on all sides of the debate like to think so. Those who want to protect the immigrants and their families use the term with a certain bravado, as if to stress that their city has adopted a firm and unique moral stance. Those who want the immigrants out use it too, but as an expression of derision for what they insist is the flouting of federal immigration law.

There is no doubt that Los Angeles is a capital of illegal immigration, based on numbers alone. But a sanctuary city? L.A., take a seat. If you want to see what a real sanctuary city does, have a look at San Francisco.

The cliche of the beautiful City by the Bay as a leftist outpost is tiresome, but sometimes the shoe fits. That became clear this month with revelations that public officials there actively assisted juvenile illegal immigrants in avoiding federal deportation, even though they were also charged with state crimes.

What’s the big deal about flying young Hondurans back to their home country? After all, it gets them out of town and beyond U.S. borders, which is where they legally belong. But it is, in fact, a big deal because it puts San Franciscans in the position of actively shielding offenders from federal authorities. The offenders avoid immigration proceedings, which means they could easily return and be subject only to a first-offense misdemeanor charge, rather than the felony of illegal reentry after deportation. Mayor Gavin Newsom was embarrassed by the reports and, appropriately, he put an end to the practice. The U.S. attorney’s office is investigating.

There is no comparison between San Francisco’s practice and the Los Angeles Police Department’s policy of not arresting suspects solely for immigration violations. The LAPD’s Special Order 40 essentially calls on federal immigration authorities to do their work while the local police do theirs. There is no San Francisco-style sheltering or interference, and in fact the LAPD can hand over to the feds those booked for other crimes who, it turns out, are here illegally.

The contrast between Special Order 40 and San Francisco’s method of dealing with illegal immigrants won’t make Los Angeles’ sensible policy any more acceptable to its adamant and vocal critics. But they should note -- as should those on the other side of the debate who also like to call L.A. a sanctuary -- that all the two policies have in common is a misused name.