State Rep. Dave Williams, a Colorado Springs Republican, slammed sanctuary cities during a radio appearance Friday, claiming immigrants are drawn to them and “wreak havoc.”
“People have been murdered, mayhemmed, [and] raped” by immigrants in sanctuary cities, Williams said.
Williams appeared on KNUS’ Peter Boyles show to talk about his policy proposal to punish politicians representing sanctuary cities by holding them liable for crimes committed by undocumented immigrants who cause, as he pus it, “any sort of murder or mayhem to anyone personally or their property.”
The bill, called the Colorado Politician Accountability Act, made national news when it was introduced in the state legislature last year.
Williams told Boyles he’s continuing his crusade against what he refers to as “lawless politicians” who promote sanctuary city politics, this time by leaving it up to Colorado voters.
Williams: “You know what? I’m bringing it back! And this time – this time — I’m going to make it a referendum of the people. And I guarantee you that the Democrats are not inclined to ask the people. Because if we ask the people, this bill is going to become law and the politicians can go to jail and get sued.”
“Denver’s DA Beth McCann deserves to be prosecuted,” said Boyles. Williams agreed, adding that “every politician complicit in this deserves some degree of accountability, whether it’s going to jail or getting sued.”
Williams has also been highly critical of Dreamers, or young immigrants who were brought to the country as children and receive protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. He once painted them as criminals despite the fact that immigrants who have committed crimes are not eligible for DACA, and that Dreamers are not allowed to keep their DACA status if they do commit a crime.
Studies have consistently shown that immigrants – both documented and undocumented – commit significantly less crime than native-born Americans, and may actually make their communities safer.
Williams once claimed that immigrants “destroy American lives” and that not all cultures are equal.
Listen to Boyles’ radio interview with Williams in full here.
