Quick Hit:

As the presumed Democrat presidential nominee, Kamala Harris faces scrutiny for her past support of sanctuary city policies. Critics argue that these policies allowed criminal migrants to evade deportation, leading to serious crimes.

Key Details:

• Edwin Ramos, an illegal migrant, committed a triple murder in San Francisco in 2008. Harris did not seek the death penalty despite calls from the victims' family.
• Rony Aguilera, a Honduran illegal migrant, was released despite a federal assault conviction and later committed a gruesome gang-related murder.
• Alexander Izaguirre, involved in Harris's "Back on Track" program, assaulted a woman while in the program despite previous arrests.

Diving Deeper:

Vice President Kamala Harris's tenure as San Francisco's district attorney is under renewed scrutiny as she leads the Democratic presidential nominee race. Her unwavering support for sanctuary city policies is now a focal point for Republican critics, who argue these policies have led to serious crimes by illegal migrants.

Elected as San Francisco's district attorney in 2004, Harris vowed never to impose the death penalty and supported the city's long-standing sanctuary city policy. She argued that these policies allowed illegal migrants to report crimes without fear of deportation. However, several high-profile crimes during her tenure have cast a shadow over these policies.

In 2008, Edwin Ramos, an illegal migrant from El Salvador, committed a triple murder in San Francisco, killing Tony Bologna and his two sons. Ramos, involved in previous gang-related crimes, was not referred to federal authorities due to the city's sanctuary policy. Following the murders, then-mayor Gavin Newsom revised the policy to report illegal youth to federal authorities upon arrest. Harris, keeping her campaign promise, did not seek the death penalty against Ramos, a decision criticized by the victims' family.

Rony Aguilera, another case from Harris's tenure, highlights the potential dangers of sanctuary policies. An illegal migrant from Honduras, Aguilera was released after a federal assault conviction and later participated in a brutal gang-related murder. His release, critics argue, was a direct consequence of the sanctuary policies.

Additionally, Harris's "Back on Track" program, designed to help low-level offenders, included illegal migrant Alexander Izaguirre, who had multiple arrests. While in the program, Izaguirre assaulted a San Francisco resident, an incident Harris admitted was a mistake but defended the program's overall integrity.

As a senator in 2017, Harris opposed "Kate's Law," a bill aimed at increasing penalties for illegal migrants who re-enter the US after deportation. The bill was named after Kate Steinle, who was killed by an illegal migrant with a history of multiple deportations. Harris's opposition to the bill further fuels criticism of her stance on immigration enforcement.

As Harris campaigns for the presidency, her past policies and their implications on public safety remain a contentious issue. Republicans argue that her sanctuary city support has allowed dangerous criminals to remain in the country, leading to preventable tragedies. The debate over sanctuary policies and their impact on crime continues to shape the political landscape as Harris seeks the nation's highest office.