Cotton Takes On Sanctuary Cities: ‘Local Officials Should Support The Rule Of Law’

AP Photo/Danny Johnston
AP Photo/Danny Johnston

Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) wants to bring an end the sanctuary jurisdictions, or areas that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration effort.

Cotton’s legislation would make sanctuary cities ineligible for federal immigration and law enforcement grants.

His bill, introduced Wednesday, comes on the heels of the murder of Kate Steinle, allegedly at the hands of a multiple-deportee, multiple felon who was released from custody due to San Francisco’s sanctuary polices.

“The senseless murder of a young woman in San Francisco last week tragically illustrates that the politicization of the immigration debate has now swamped even common-sense efforts to protect public safety,” Cotton said. “It is unacceptable that cities would issue ordinances that explicitly aim to frustrate federal immigration laws that are supposed to keep illegal immigrant felons off the streets.”

Francisco Sanchez — who had been deported at least five times and convicted of seven felonies — has been charged with Steinle’s murder. Sanchez shot Steinle less than three months after the San Francisco Sheriff’s Department ignored an immigration detainer and released him.

According to Cotton, taxpayers should not be on the hook for those cities that refuse to cooperate with federal laws.  for

“U.S. taxpayers shouldn’t be expected to support such misguided local policies that put their safety in jeopardy. No matter their political affiliation, local officials should support the rule of law and protect the safety of all Americans,” he said.

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