This Democrat shows how out of practice his party is at defending immigrants
De Leon then authored a bill, SB 54, that would make California into a so-called "sanctuary state" for people who are in the country illegally. The legislation would bar state and local law enforcement agencies from using their resources -- including police officers -- to help with immigration enforcement.
No matter what conservatives say, this isn't sanctuary. Federal immigration agents would still apprehend illegal immigrants in California.
But the de Leon bill does foolishly play into the hands of Republicans who want to portray both Democrats and Latinos as supporting open borders.
When the bill passed the state Senate last month, de Leon called the vote "a rejection of President Trump's false and cynical portrayal of undocumented residents as a lawless community."
Right. Why would anyone consider illegal immigrants a lawless community?
When the president threatened to withhold funds from those fabled sanctuary cities, de Leon called the threat "morally repugnant" and said that Trump's immigration enforcement was fueled by "white supremacy."
It warms the heart to see a unifier in action.
Here's what I've learned after many years of writing about immigration: Much of white America is skittish about the changing demographics of our country, and California is no exception. So, if you're part of the Latino community -- which makes up 39 percent of the state's population -- why kick white folks in the teeth? You'll only create more Trump voters.
Now for the worst part. Looking at de Leon's record in the Legislature -- particularly during the eight years of the Obama administration -- I don't think he believes his own rants. His conversion from Democratic loyalist to racial arsonist is a little too cute. He seems like a phony who would probably be much more compliant if Hillary Clinton were president and leading the crackdown on illegal immigration.
I don't remember de Leon kicking up a ruckus when Barack Obama deported nearly 3 million people, divided hundreds of thousands of families, and dumped tens of thousands of U.S.-born children into foster care after kicking their parents out of the country.
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