The House Acts to Curb Sanctuary City Policies

Press Release

Kate Steinle, Sarah Root, Grant Ronnebeck -- all three of these individuals were killed at the hands of individuals illegally present in the United States. This week, I participated in a roundtable at the White House where I heard from many who have lost loved ones as a result of crimes committed by unlawful immigrants. Any loss of life is tragic, but their deaths are especially devastating since they could have been prevented if our immigration laws had been enforced.

For years, the lack of immigration enforcement and the spread of dangerous sanctuary city policies have failed the American people. Things must change. After working closely with several members of the House Judiciary Committee, I introduced the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act and Kate's Law. This week, the House took up, and passed, both of these important bills to help protect our communities.

The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act is a simple, straightforward bill that strengthens the law to combat dangerous sanctuary policies shielding unlawful and criminal immigrants from federal immigration enforcement. It withholds certain federal grants administered by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security from communities that violate federal law by prohibiting their law enforcement officers from communicating with immigration officials. Another section of the bill, Sarah and Grant's Law, is named for two young people whose lives were suddenly taken by criminal aliens who remain at large today. Under this section, unlawful immigrants convicted of drunk driving, or arrested for other dangerous crimes, are held without bond during their removal proceedings.

Kate's Law is named in memory and in honor of Kate Steinle. Two years ago, Kate was enjoying an evening in San Francisco with her father. In the blink of an eye, she was murdered by a criminal alien who had been removed from the United States and had returned at least five times. Nothing that Congress can pass will ever bring her back nor take away the pain suffered by her family and countless other victims of crimes committed by criminal aliens. However, Kate's Law will act as a deterrent by enhancing the penalties for deported felons who seek to illegally reenter the United States. Knowing they may face up to two years in federal prison is one thing, but the possibility of a sentence of 10, 15, 20, or 25 years will have the desired effect.

The United States is home to individuals from every walk of life. Immigrants are an important part of our country's past and future. But, we are also a country of laws. We cannot encourage the spread of sanctuary policies that endanger our communities. Passage of Kate's Law and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act is an essential component of a larger effort to bring about true enforcement of our immigration laws and protect communities from crimes that should never happen.

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