Massachusetts Democrats Abandon Immigrant Community [OPINION]

Immigrants and their advocates who thought the Democrats would deliver on their promises to make Massachusetts a sanctuary state have been sucker-punched.

Senate Democrats were unable to win passage of a budget rider that would have prevented local police from cooperating fully with federal immigration enforcement officials.

Let's be clear, I am not shedding any tears over the failure of the measure that was largely responsible for holding up a budget agreement weeks into the new fiscal year. I think it's bad policy. But, unlike the Democrats, I didn't use the immigrant community as a political prop, only to bale when the going got tough.

Who can forget our self-righteous friends on the left and how they "hey-hey, ho-hoed" at countless rallies and protests in defense of criminal illegal aliens in order to bash Trump Administration immigration policies?

Funny, when it came time to fight or go to the beach for the summer, they chose the beach.

The State House News Service reports: "The dropped provision would have prohibited local law enforcement from entering collaboration agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as 287(g) agreements, and generally prevented police from inquiring into people's immigration status. It was a pared-back version of standalone legislation know as the Safe Communities Act. Governor Charlie Baker had threatened to veto rider if it reached his desk."

In the long run, I am glad the rider failed, but you know supporters will be back next session. Let's see how the Democrats explain this one to the immigrant community. They are in the overwhelming majority and passage should have been easy. Although this is an election year, isn't it?

Barry Richard is the host of The Barry Richard Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. Contact him at barry@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @BarryJRichard58. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.