Does Rudy Giuliani even know where Somerville is? Someone on his campaign staff obviously has some clue as to where our 76,000-plus population city is. The nation learned where the presidential hopeful stood on immigration when he recently threw Somerville’s name onto a list of opponent Mitt Romney’s sins. However, what really happens here in Somerville has been turned into a campaign ploy to make our former governor look bad and our city look like it is setting its feet against the forces of progress.

Our city has allowed undocumented immigrants to send their children to public schools and live without fear of deportation since it became an official sanctuary city under the administration of former mayor Gene Brune in 1987. It is one of only a handful of cities with such open-door immigration policies and safeguards for illegals. Somerville has served as a home to a community that may be legally unwelcome in our country, but for one reason or another found it necessary to uproot their lives and travel to America. Post Sept. 11, the world has changed. But the minute we start to assume we are living among terrorists on a broad scale, we slip into a plan that they have created.

America was created by outsiders. Millions have been welcomed. For those who came in recent years without the right documents, cities such as Somerville offered a home. Kids of families that do not speak English have a chance to go to school, and undocumented immigrants along with other residents have been offered free vaccinations compliments of the city. We have been getting along just fine for the most part. Extreme examples should not dictate Somerville’s general policies when it comes to immigration or other issues affecting our life and well being here.

Here in Somerville, we allow our community to be a cross-sector of places and lifestyles. Criticism from Giuliani is aimed at a segment of our city that will not be voting in the next election. He is trying to pull at America’s heartstrings. Pulling hard enough could tug down the city’s reputation and decisions our elected leaders have made. The immigrant population is far from Somerville’s most pressing issue, but it is an issue one presidential candidate is willing to stretch if it can give him White House appeal.