It shouldn’t take a child rape charge against an illegal Honduran alien, who rightfully should have been deported last year, for Philadelphia to realize the danger of its irresponsible sanctuary policy.

Philly ignored a 2015 federal detainer request against Ramon Aguirre-Ochoa, 45, after the dismissal of domestic aggravated assault charges, according to federal authorities. A detainer asks local jurisdictions to hold suspected illegal aliens for up to 48 hours after their scheduled release.

Instead, Aguirre-Ochoa remained free until his July 26 arrest in a child rape case, The Daily Signal reports.

Under Democrat Mayor Jim Kenney’s sanctuary policy, the city in most cases doesn’t respond to requests from the feds to be notified of an illegal alien’s release unless that person is convicted of a first- or second-degree felony involving violence. That’s because, under a 2014 federal appeals court ruling, so-called sanctuary cities aren’t required to comply with federal detainers or to provide notices of release. Cooperation is optional.

But “sanctuary” doesn’t help deportation dodgers, whose lawbreaking begins when they enter the country. It only exposes citizens to alien lawbreakers. Where’s the “sanctuary” for crime victims?

State legislation that would hold sanctuary cities accountable for illegals’ crimes doesn’t prevent crime. What’s lacking in Philadelphia and 30 other sanctuary cities is federal law that closes the sanctuary loophole.

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