Los Angeles as a ‘Sanctuary’

Rep. Dan Lungren’s article (Editorial Pages, Dec. 10), contending that Los Angeles as a “Sanctuary” erodes the integrity of the law, is, at best, a sincere display of ignorance of the law, and, at worst, a politically dictated gross distortion of history, purpose of law and the facts.

The United States is signatory to the Geneva Conventions, a body of humanitarian law which defines the rules of war and refugee law. The law clearly states the rights of persons to seek asylum to escape from flying bullets. The law explains that such persons may not be returned to such situations in their country of origin--the rule of law known as “non-refoulment.” The Refugee Act of 1980 applies the law domestically. The entire Central American refugee policy of this Administration is a politically dictated manipulation of public opinion in this country that has absolutely nothing to do with the truth of the matter.

Lungren states that the city’s declaration will open floodgates so that hordes of poor and disenfranchised will pour into Los Angeles. He does not seem to recognize the fact that the foreign policy of this Administration has already brought 300,000 Central Americans to Los Angeles, and there must be a good reason.

I was in Geneva this summer for the deliberations of the Subcommission on Human Rights that issued resolutions condemning El Salvador and Guatemala for human-rights violations. I was in San Remo, Italy, for a meeting of representatives of the United Nations High Commission on Refugees and the International Red Cross, which discussed the increase of refugees in the world due to rising nationalism, and consequent hostilities.

It is a recognized fact in Europe, and in the rest of the world, that the United States is conducting a war in El Salvador, and another in Nicaragua without the consent of the people of the United States, and has sent arms to consecutive oppressive dictatorships in Guatemala. The facts, without ideological interpretation, are printed in newspapers in Europe, Mexico and Latin America.

There is no confusion in the people’s minds in Europe or Latin America about what is really happening and who the players and the victims are.

PATRICIA KROMMER

Los Angeles

Sister Krommer is executive director of the Humanitarian Law Project of the Archbishop Oscar A. Romero Relief Fund.