Illegal immigration and homeland security are two issues that will continue to spark strong debate leading up to the November general election. Tensions between law enforcement and black protesters escalated last month, sparking a number of ambushes on police. The worst attack was in Dallas, where four Dallas police officers and one transit officer died from sniper fire.

There have been 11 ambushes of police officers so far this year across the country, and the number of officers killed in firearm deaths has risen to 32, compared with 18 at this point last year.The Dallas shooting was the deadliest event for U.S. law enforcement since Sept. 11, 2001. One person who helped defuse the situation was Dallas Police Department Chief David Brown, who said he and his family had also received death threats after his officers were killed.After Black Lives Matter demonstrations erupted in his city, Chief Brown, who is black, calmly stated during a news conference that the protesters could fix the problems they see with police officers by getting a job in law enforcement."We're hiring," Brown said. "Get off that protest line and put an application in. We'll put you in your neighborhood and help you resolve some of those problems."Although it's doubtful any of the people in the Black Lives Matter movement responded, his words did spark others to action. Employment applications to the Dallas Police Department more than tripled since the shooting. From July 8 to July 20, it received nearly 40 per day.On the immigration front, conservatives have applauded those elected officials who push legislation that would withhold federal funding from sanctuary cities. A lightning rod case in this effort is the murder of Kathryn Steinle, who was shot dead while taking a stroll with her father in San Francisco.The man who shot the young woman in the back was an illegal immigrant from Mexico, a convicted felon who had previously been deported on five different occasions. He has pleaded not guilty to murder charges, claiming the shooting was an accident.San Francisco's status as a sanctuary city - meaning the city will not turn over illegal immigrants to federal officials - has made this case a flash point.Pennsylvania, a key battleground state in the presidential election, has also joined the debate. In Philadelphia, state Rep. Martina White has challenged Mayor Jim Kenney's policy declaring it a sanctuary city. Shortly after being sworn in as Philly's mayor, Kenney signed an executive order that restored a previous order from former Mayor Michael Nutter which barred local officials from cooperating with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials in dealing with undocumented immigrants.It prompted White to sponsor House Bill 1885 which establishes criminal and economic sanctions against any illegal immigrant sanctuary city in the commonwealth. Self-declared "sanctuary" municipalities would be liable for damages if an undocumented person commits a crime there.White has explained that the bill is designed to uphold federal law on illegal immigration and to protect citizens who are here legally.Sen. Pat Toomey has backed the bill, calling on Kenney to reconsider his decision to shield dangerous and violent criminals from federal authorities just because they are illegal immigrants.Jerry Knowles, Berks/Carbon/Schuylkill, also applauded White's legislation, pointing out that public safety should be the priority.Rep. White has been joined by other state lawmakers, including Reps. Daryl Metcalfe of Butler County and Doyle Heffley of Carbon who introduced bipartisan legislation to curb illegal immigration throughout the state.Metcalfe's legislation (House Bill 1894) would enhance a 2012 state law that requires all state contractors and subcontractors to confirm the working status of their employees through E-Verify (valid Social Security numbers).Last year Heffley sponsored House Bill 237, which he said would ensure that Pennsylvania is compliant with federal law when it comes to public benefits. Any commonwealth agency that administers public benefits must verify that those benefits are being paid to only those who are eligible through the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlementprogram operated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.Heffley said that by making sure that state and local benefits are only paid to those who are legal residents of Pennsylvania, it assures that those most in need of public assistance are able to receive it. These are good common sense measures. When it comes to debating immigration and sanctuary cities, the rule of law should be paramount in providing safety of all citizens.By Jim Zbick |

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