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U.S. NEWS Wednesday 24 OctOber 2018

San Francisco is allowing

noncitizens to vote, but

few will

By OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ "People are really fearful
Associated Press because the Trump admin-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — istration is perceived to be
San Francisco has become very anti-immigrant," Lee
the largest U.S. city to give said. "There is legitimate
people in the country ille- concern that their informa-
gally and other noncitizens tion may be turned over
the right to vote in a local to the federal government
election, but the possibility and that they may end up
of the Trump administration being detained or deport-
learning their identities ap- ed."
pears to have kept people Lee and other community
away: only 35 noncitizens groups have been inviting
have registered. prospective voters to reg-
It is among a handful of ister but also warning them
cities nationwide to allow of the risks. The city elec-
people who aren't citizens tion department also has election law cases, said zenship in the future. sure. In Maryland, where
to vote, which is illegal in warnings on its registration she is not surprised that only "By voting people are tak- an estimated 15 percent
state and federal elec- form and on flyers saying a few noncitizens have ing a big legal risk, and for of residents are foreign-
tions. In San Francisco, they voter information would be registered because vot- what return?" Dhillon asked. born, at least six cities allow
can only participate in the public and could be seen ing could jeopardize their San Francisco is not the first noncitizens to vote in local
school board race. by U.S. Immigration and chances of attaining citi- place with such a mea- elections.q
Voters in 2016 approved a Customs Enforcement and
measure allowing parents other agencies.
or guardians of a child in San Francisco is a "sanctu-
San Francisco schools to ary city" that otherwise lim-
have a say in their chil- its cooperation with federal
dren's education by help- immigration officials. The
ing elect school board rep- city has not shied away
resentatives regardless of from confronting the U.S.
their immigration status. In government on immigra-
the same election, Donald tion, suing the Trump ad-
Trump won the presidency ministration over sanctuary
and has since cracked protections for people in
down on illegal immigra- the country illegally.
tion and ramped up rheto- Those who championed
ric against those living in the voting ordinance say it
the U.S. illegally. aims to give immigrants a
"We're in an unprecedent- greater voice at the school
ed arena of animosity to- board, which approves
ward our immigrant com- curriculum, hires staff and
munity, and that has re- manages a nearly $900,000
ally stopped people from annual budget.
voting," said San Francisco The San Francisco School
Supervisor Sandra Fewer, District does not keep a
a former member of the tally of its noncitizen par-
school board and a sup- ents or children but reports
porter of the noncitizen vot- that 29 percent of its 54,000
ing measure. students are English learn-
Noncitizens must provide ers, with the majority list-
their address and date of ing Chinese or Spanish as
birth to register. The num- their first language. At least
ber who had was low as of 40,000 people in the city of
Monday, but people can 885,000 are in the country
still sign up and vote on illegally, according to gov-
Election Day. ernment estimates.
The Chinese American Vot- Harmeet Dhillon, a San
ers Education Committee Francisco attorney and
has been holding voter committeewoman for the
registration campaigns on National Republican Com-
college campuses, in low- mittee, said allowing non-
income neighborhoods, at citizens to cast ballots de-
festivals and in Chinatown. values the rights of citizens.
Volunteers have not regis- "Voting is a sacred privilege
tered a single noncitizen, and a sacred right of citi-
including a green-card zens. It should not be trivial-
holder, executive director ized for political gain," she
David Lee said. said. Dhillon, who handles