Ed Rendell: Mayor Kenney And DHS Should Cooperate

PHILADELPHIA -- (CBS) - With Jeh Johnson, the Secretary of Homeland Security, in Philadelphia meeting with Mayor Jim Kenney over his edicts not to cooperate with the department in the reporting of undocumented immigrants, former Mayor and Governor Ed Rendell is recommending compromise.

Rendell, during an interview with Rich Zeoli on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, hopes the two sides can reach an agreement for better cooperation.

"There are arguments for being a sanctuary city because some of the people that are sought really shouldn't be deported, but I think, on balance, and again, I hate to second guess a sitting Mayor, because there's only one Mayor, I think we should try to work out an agreement with Secretary Johnson about how this can be done with some form of review for people that we think shouldn't be deported and still cooperate. I would try to reach an agreement if I were still Mayor, but I know that Mayor Kenney feels very strongly about this. He's been doing it, pushing for increased immigration into Philadelphia for a long time."

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He acknowledged Kenney's passionate stance on the issue and also pointed out the benefits acquired through increased immigration.

"Mayor Kenney feels very strongly about this. Jim Kenney deserves an enormous amount of credit because, as a Councilman, even dating back to the time that I was Mayor and Jim was in Council, he was the one always agitating that we should be a more open and friendly city for immigrants. Now, you can do that without becoming a sanctuary city, but Jim feels very strongly about that and Philadelphia has moved significantly to get an immigrant population, and good immigrants who help our workforce."

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