To the editor:

The term “sanctuary city” was coined to imply that somehow undocumented immigrants can do whatever they want, while the police can do nothing. Immigrants here have to follow the same laws as everyone else. There’s not even a legal term “sanctuary city.”

The Department of Homeland Security has added Lyon County (and many others) to a list of “sanctuary jurisdictions”, but nothing could be further from the truth. DHS would have our jails honor ICE detainer “requests”, which not signed by Judges, and therefore are not warrants, required by our constitution. Our constitution is part of the ‘rule of law!

Many state and local jails that previously honored ICE requests were successfully sued for holding prisoners beyond their release date.

If ICE wants to arrest someone held by state or local jails, they can get a real warrant from a judge, and I’m sure our jail would be happy to turn a prisoner over. However, getting a real warrant signed by a real judge is too much of a problem, takes too much time, etc.

Bob Quasius

Marshall