Sanctuary and the Law

The latest pronouncement (Letters, Feb. 11) from Harold Ezell, regional commissioner of the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service, that the Sanctuary movement is, by inference, simply an illegal smuggling ring in disguise leads him to ask, “What makes a church or minister above the law?

This in turn leads me to ask, “What places the regional commissioner of the INS above the law?”

The law I am referring to is Public Law 96-212, The Refugee Act of 1980. I quote: “Title I. Purpose. Section 101(a): The Congress declares that it is the historic policy of the United States to respond to the urgent needs of persons subject to persecution in their homelands, including, where appropriate, humanitarian assistance for their care and maintenance in asylum areas, efforts to promote opportunities for resettlement or voluntary repatriation, aid for necessary transportation and processing, admission to this country of refugees of special humanitarian concern to the United States and transitional assistance to refugees in the United States . . .

“Section 101(b): The objectives of this act are to provide a permanent and systematic procedure for the admission to this country of refugees of special humanitarian concern to the United States and to provide comprehensive and uniform provisions for the effective resettlement and absorption of those refugees who are admitted.”

Mr. Ezell, it may be that your failure to implement the above law is the reason that Sanctuary workers feel driven to do what they do.

We have come to understand that fairness and honesty are not bhallmarks of the Administration you serve. In the future, Mr. Commissioner, please spare us your piety.

FRED R. BROOKS

Santa Monica