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New legislation targets 'sanctuary cities' that circumvent immigration laws New legislation targets 'sanctuary cities' that circumvent immigration laws
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The debate over so-called sanctuary cities – localities that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities – has made its way to the US Congress after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump brought the issue to national attention in the 2016 presidential race.The debate over so-called sanctuary cities – localities that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration authorities – has made its way to the US Congress after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump brought the issue to national attention in the 2016 presidential race.
Iowa senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican who chairs the Senate judiciary committee, introduced legislation on Tuesday that would crack down on jurisdictions that provide safe harbor for undocumented migrants by withholding some federal funding for state and local entities if they decline to cooperate with the government on the holding or transferring of undocumented migrants with criminal records.Iowa senator Chuck Grassley, the Republican who chairs the Senate judiciary committee, introduced legislation on Tuesday that would crack down on jurisdictions that provide safe harbor for undocumented migrants by withholding some federal funding for state and local entities if they decline to cooperate with the government on the holding or transferring of undocumented migrants with criminal records.
Among the funding Grassley’s bill threatens to withhold are grants related to law enforcement that are distributed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. His legislation would also impose a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence, as well as a possible fine, for those who enter the US after being deported.Among the funding Grassley’s bill threatens to withhold are grants related to law enforcement that are distributed by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Justice. His legislation would also impose a mandatory minimum five-year prison sentence, as well as a possible fine, for those who enter the US after being deported.
“Enforcing the immigration laws of the United States is not a voluntary or trivial matter. Real lives are at stake. Things cannot continue this way,” Grassley said while announcing the bill during a judiciary committee hearing, where several relatives whose family members were killed by undocumented migrants provided testimony.“Enforcing the immigration laws of the United States is not a voluntary or trivial matter. Real lives are at stake. Things cannot continue this way,” Grassley said while announcing the bill during a judiciary committee hearing, where several relatives whose family members were killed by undocumented migrants provided testimony.
“No more people should die at the hands of those who break our laws just by being here. No more families should have to go through what our witnesses have experienced,” he added, while noting that those addressing the panel lost loved ones “as a direct result of the [Obama] administration’s failure to deport criminals or its tolerance of sanctuary policies”.“No more people should die at the hands of those who break our laws just by being here. No more families should have to go through what our witnesses have experienced,” he added, while noting that those addressing the panel lost loved ones “as a direct result of the [Obama] administration’s failure to deport criminals or its tolerance of sanctuary policies”.
The issue of sanctuary cities has risen to prominence following the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle, a 32-year-old San Francisco woman, earlier this month. The suspect in her murder, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, had seven prior felony convictions and was deported five times to his native Mexico. The issue of sanctuary cities has risen to prominence following the fatal shooting of Kate Steinle, a 32-year-old San Francisco woman, earlier this month. The suspect in her murder, Juan Francisco López Sánchez, had seven prior felony convictions and was deported five times to his native Mexico.
Related: San Francisco's sanctuary policy on trial after Mexican migrant accused of killingRelated: San Francisco's sanctuary policy on trial after Mexican migrant accused of killing
Trump, the real estate mogul who is seeking the Republican party’s nomination for president, has repeatedly invoked Steinle’s story while criss-crossing the nation and defending his controversial remarks that most Mexicans crossing the US border are “rapists” and drug-runners. Donald Trump, the real estate mogul who is seeking the Republican party’s nomination for president, has repeatedly invoked Steinle’s story while criss-crossing the country and defending his controversial remarks that most Mexicans crossing the US border are “rapists” and drug-runners.
Steinle’s father, Jim, did not mention Trump while testifying at Tuesday’s hearing – the family has criticized the candidate for “sensationalizing” her death – focusing instead on what he said were “unjointed laws and basic incompetence of the government” that robbed him of his daughter.Steinle’s father, Jim, did not mention Trump while testifying at Tuesday’s hearing – the family has criticized the candidate for “sensationalizing” her death – focusing instead on what he said were “unjointed laws and basic incompetence of the government” that robbed him of his daughter.
“The US has suffered a self-inflicted wound in the murder of our daughter by the hand of a person that should have never been on the streets in this country,” Jim Steinle said. “Our family realizes the complexities of immigration laws. However, we feel strongly that some legislation should be discussed, enacted and/or changed to take these undocumented immigrant felons off our streets for good.”“The US has suffered a self-inflicted wound in the murder of our daughter by the hand of a person that should have never been on the streets in this country,” Jim Steinle said. “Our family realizes the complexities of immigration laws. However, we feel strongly that some legislation should be discussed, enacted and/or changed to take these undocumented immigrant felons off our streets for good.”
Several bills targeting sanctuary cities have been introduced in the aftermath of Steinle’s death, including legislation in the House of Representatives that mirrors Grassley’s by using federal funding as a tool to force localities to comply with federal immigration enforcement. The House bill is expected to get a vote later this week.Several bills targeting sanctuary cities have been introduced in the aftermath of Steinle’s death, including legislation in the House of Representatives that mirrors Grassley’s by using federal funding as a tool to force localities to comply with federal immigration enforcement. The House bill is expected to get a vote later this week.
Immigration advocates have voiced concern with what they believe would amount to US lawmakers acting rashly, rather than thoroughly debating sanctuary cities and their intent. Immigration advocates have voiced concern over what they believe would amount to US lawmakers acting rashly, rather than thoroughly debating sanctuary cities and their intent.
Supporters of the policy have said undermining it would create mistrust between police and immigrant communities, making difficult for local authorities to distinguish between law-abiding undocumented migrants and those who have committed violent crimes. They have also pointed to numerous studies showing that the vast majority of immigrants are less likely to commit violent crimes than native-born Americans. Supporters of the policy have said undermining it would create mistrust between police and immigrant communities, making it difficult for local authorities to distinguish between law-abiding undocumented migrants and those who have committed violent crimes. They have also pointed to numerous studies showing that the vast majority of immigrants are less likely to commit violent crimes than native-born Americans.
The Obama administration has said it, too, would like sanctuary cities to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency tasked with enforcing federal immigration laws. But Jeh Johnson, the secretary of Homeland Security, told the House judiciary committee last week that threatening local entities into cooperation was not the answer. The Obama administration has said it, too, would like sanctuary cities to collaborate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the agency tasked with enforcing federal immigration laws. But Jeh Johnson, the secretary of homeland security, told the House judiciary committee last week that threatening local entities into cooperation was not the answer.
Given that view, it’s unlikely that Barack Obama would sign any of the proposed bills into law if they passed the Republican-controlled Congress. The White House has defended its record on enforcement – Obama has deported more immigrants than any president in history – and argued that Republicans have blocked the necessary funding to better secure the border.Given that view, it’s unlikely that Barack Obama would sign any of the proposed bills into law if they passed the Republican-controlled Congress. The White House has defended its record on enforcement – Obama has deported more immigrants than any president in history – and argued that Republicans have blocked the necessary funding to better secure the border.
“I recognize that people want to play politics with this,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said earlier this month. “The fact is the president has done everything within his power to make sure that we’re focusing our law enforcement resources on criminals and those who pose a threat to public safety.”“I recognize that people want to play politics with this,” Josh Earnest, the White House press secretary, said earlier this month. “The fact is the president has done everything within his power to make sure that we’re focusing our law enforcement resources on criminals and those who pose a threat to public safety.”
But with Trump leading a host of Republican presidential polls and showing no signs of reining in his focus on illegal immigration, the issue doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul, a senator from Kentucky, also introduced a bill of his own that would require state and local law enforcement to notify ICE following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant and compel them to detain the individual if ICE requests them to do so.But with Trump leading a host of Republican presidential polls and showing no signs of reining in his focus on illegal immigration, the issue doesn’t appear to be going away anytime soon. Republican presidential candidate Rand Paul, a senator from Kentucky, also introduced a bill of his own that would require state and local law enforcement to notify ICE following the arrest of an undocumented immigrant and compel them to detain the individual if ICE requests them to do so.
At least one of the women who testified at Tuesday’s hearing – Laura Wilkerson, whose 18-year-old son was killed by an undocumented migrant – thanked Trump “for getting a message out in two minutes”.At least one of the women who testified at Tuesday’s hearing – Laura Wilkerson, whose 18-year-old son was killed by an undocumented migrant – thanked Trump “for getting a message out in two minutes”.
“It feels good to be heard. Whether you love him or whether you don’t, I felt heard,” she said.“It feels good to be heard. Whether you love him or whether you don’t, I felt heard,” she said.