Oct 23, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Stephen A. Smith (Stephen Smith) on the ESPN NBA Countdown live set at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
(New York, New York) – Stephen A. Smith is taking aim at sanctuary city policies, arguing that local governments should not be allowed to ignore federal immigration law.
Smith’s comments focused on the tension between federal immigration rules and cities that limit cooperation with immigration enforcement. He argued that if the federal government says a person cannot enter the country unlawfully, cities should not be able to create policies that effectively shield those same individuals from consequences.
His remarks quickly gained attention because Smith, best known for sports commentary, has increasingly weighed in on major political and cultural debates.
Supporters of his argument say sanctuary policies undermine the rule of law and make it harder for federal authorities to remove people who entered the country illegally. Defenders of sanctuary cities argue the policies are meant to build trust between immigrant communities and local law enforcement, especially when victims or witnesses may otherwise fear coming forward.
