San Francisco Welcomes Illegal Immigrants With New Ad Campaign

San Francisco, CA (AHN)-The city of San Francisco has begun an advertising campaign targeting illegal immigrants, welcoming them to the city the bay, as the country remains divided in fierce debate over the issue.

The new advertising campaign features TV and radio ads, billboards, brochures, and other public reminders that San Francisco offers a respite for illegal aliens seeking access to city services without permanent resident status.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, who prides San Francisco for its passage of the so-called sanctuary ordinance in 1989, said he wants illegal immigrants to understand that they are always welcome in the city, despite increased raids and deportations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

"We're not arguing against common-sense reforms," Newsom said. "We're not arguing against reforms at all...We're inviting people to come out of the shadows and take advantage of services. Our city officials want to remind illegal workers that the city would not play a part in any possible discrimination they might encounter at the hands of the federal government," Newsom added.

San Francisco is not the only city to offer so-called "sanctuary status" to illegal immigrants, with New York, Detroit and Washington among other cities enacting policies that discourage the police from enforcing immigration law and launching raids on illegal immigrants.