Despite Blocked Bill, Sanctuary City Debate Not Going Away

Democrats swiftly blocked a bid by Senate Republicans to toughen immigration laws on Tuesday that would have seen a significant crackdown on cities that decline to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

The congressional legislation coming to the Senate floor Tuesday would make it illegal for local governments to ignore immigration-related detainers – federal requests to notify them before releasing an illegal immigrant so they can take custody – and would make it illegal to bar local officials from sharing immigration information with federal agents.

The Senate bill would have penalized “sanctuary cities” by withholding federal funding for community development block grants and Community Oriented Policing Services funding. The measure was similar to a bill that passed in the House of Representatives in July.

“As a former mayor, I know how much this legislation would impair crime-fighting efforts in American cities, burden local governments with additional costs, and promote constitutionally problematic detentions”, Booker said in a statement after opposing the measure.

The legislation is supported by National Association of Police Organizations, the National Sheriffs Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the global Union of Police Associations, the Federation for American Immigration Reform, and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).

Lopez-Sanchez, according to immigration officials, was considered a repeat felon who had been deported five times to Mexico.

One “Republican” (Illinois’ Mark Kirk) voted against the bill, while another – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham – did not vote. This was in response to a Board of Supervisors vote unanimously reaffirming San Francisco’s status as a “sanctuary city” following a national uproar over the death of Kathyrn Steinle at Pier 14 this summer.

“If Democratic senators choose to value partisan loyalty to the Obama administration over protecting the lives of the children who will be murdered by violent criminal illegal aliens in sanctuary cities…that will provide a moment of clarity”, said Cruz.

“This senseless and totally preventable act of violence committed by an illegal immigrant is yet another example of why we must secure our border immediately”, Trump said earlier this year.

U.S. Sen. Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) said he’d like the Senate to consider the mandatory prison sentences again.

The Senate moved this week to force cities like San Francisco to repeal their policies, and give unfettered access to federal law enforcement.

The Center for Immigration Studies reports there are 340 cities, counties, and states that are considered “sanctuary cities”.

“San Francisco’s reckless decision to retain its sanctuary policy guarantees that more residents of the city will continue to be murdered, raped, assaulted and robbed in crimes that could have been prevented”, he said. “This is nothing more than an offensive, anti-immigrant bill”.