Email from FAIR
Senate Votes on Anti-Sanctuary City Bill Today
This afternoon at 2:15 p.m. Eastern, the Senate will vote on a bill that aims to eliminate sanctuary cities — State and local jurisdictions with policies that obstruct immigration enforcement. Introduced by Sen. David Vitter (R-LA), the “Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act” (S. 2146) is commonsense legislation that denies certain Federal funds to jurisdictions that refuse to (1) share information about criminal aliens with the Federal government or (2) recognize Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainer requests. (FAIR Summary of S. 2146) Additionally, the bill increases penalties for illegal reentry and requires the Federal government to publish on a website a list of all sanctuary jurisdictions. (Id.)
Today’s critical vote comes more than three months after Kate Steinle was shot and killed in San Francisco by an illegal alien with seven convictions and five previous deportations. (FAIR Legislative Update, July 8, 2015) The suspect, Francisco Sanchez, was released back onto the streets by San Francisco law enforcement despite his extensive criminal history and an ICE detainer request because of the city’s sanctuary policy. (Id.) Indeed, Sanchez even admitted he went to San Francisco because he knew it is a sanctuary city that would protect him from ICE. (Id.)
FAIR supports S. 2146 and urges the Senate to pass the bill. “Policies that protect people who are breaking U.S. immigration laws, including criminal aliens who have been arrested for other offenses, jeopardize the lives and safety of Americans,” said Dan Stein, president of FAIR. (FAIR Press Release, Oct. 15, 2015) Stein continued, “They also violate federal law. It is essential that Congress act immediately to end these policies.” (Id.) Hopeful that the Senate passes S. 2146, Stein concluded, “If President Obama decides to veto the bill it is up to him to explain to the American people why he is refusing to act against reckless policies that have resulted in needless deaths of innocent citizens.” (Id.)
The vote can be watched live on C-SPAN.
