San Francisco's Radical Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi is as Responsible for Kathryn Steinle's Death as the City's Sanctuary Policy

The senseless killing of Kathryn Steinle by Francisco Sanchez has gone viral. San Francisco’s sanctuary policy has been roundly criticized as an illegal immigrant and felon, who should have been turned over to ICE, was instead released by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department, who did not honor a detainer from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Francisco Sanchez is giving life to Donald Trump’s racist comments as Sanchez snuffed out Kathryn’s life. San Francisco’s sanctuary policy is decades old. It provides that city employees can’t help federal prosecutors with immigration inspections or arrests unless required by law or warrants. However, it does not preclude a heads up to ICE about the release of a illegal alien, one who has been deported 5 times and guilty of 7 felons - an illegal who is a living, walking risk to Americans and San Franciscans. As of April 2014 San Francisco saw a 96% drop in the detainees turned over to the Feds. Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi said the Sheriff’s Department had stopped honoring detainers from ICE. San Francisco was also the city that was sending its minor illegal immigrants who had committed crimes to group homes in San Bernardino County. Steimle was a tragedy waiting to happen. Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi is not your ordinary sheriff. He graduated from the Police Academy, but then went into politics. San Francisco is a progressive city. The Sheriff is to the left of the Progressives. He founded the San Francisco Green Party and co-founded the California Green Party. He managed the 2000 California campaign for Ralph Nader for President. He led campaigns for the Nuclear Free Zone initiative, public power, legalizing marijuana in the City, and banning plastic bags. He served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors from 2005 to 2011, and ran for Sheriff when he was term limited off the Board. Sheriff Mirkarimi was charged with three felony counts on January13, 2012 for domestic violence battery, child endangerment, and dissuading a witness. He pled guilty to misdemeanor false arrest in March 2012. Mayor Ed Lee wanted the Board of Supervisors to remove him from office, but 9 of the 11 supervisors have to vote for removal. Only 7 voted in the affirmative. San Francisco Police Sergeant John B. Young was sitting at the counter behind a window at the Ingleside Police Station at 9:40PM on August 29, 1971 when three Black Panthers entered and blew him away with a shotgun, also injuring a clerk. Police arrested 8 in 2007 for the murder. They became known as the “San Francisco 8.” Supervisor Mirkarimi supported a resolution before the Board of Supervisors asking the charges be dropped. Most were dropped a year later due to lack of evidence, but a couple of the eight pled guilty. Ross Mirkarini is a domestic violence supporter of cop killers. Yet, he is also Sheriff of San Francisco. The reaction against the death of Kathryn Steinle has been a bipartisan rejection of the city’s policy. Senator Diane Feinstein, former Mayor of San Francisco, is outraged as is Senator Barbara Boxer. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton says the city should comply with the law. Mayor Lee has distanced himself from the Sheriff. He stated the city’s policy was never intended to protect “repeat, serious, and violent felons.” He wants federal and local agencies to review what went wrong. The Sheriff’s response is that the policy “makes us safer.” Tell that to Kathryn Steinle, her father who witnessed the murder, and her family. The Sheriff is up for reelection in November. I trust the San Francisco voters to do the right thing in November. I also believe the City and Sheriff should be liable in a wrongful death suit brought by Kathryn Steinle’s family.