Posted on 07/23/2015 2:21:35 PM PDT by jazusamo
House Republicans passed legislation on Thursday that would deny federal funds to sanctuary cities.
The bill, passed 241-179, would withhold certain federal law enforcement grants to cities that have policies designed to shelter illegal immigrants from deportation.
Sanctuary cities have come under heavy scrutiny in the wake of Kathryn Steinles death on July 1 in San Francisco. Authorities charged Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez with her killing. Lopez-Sanchez, who is in the U.S. illegally, has a history of felony convictions and has been deported five times.
Critics of the sanctuary laws say such policies encourage people to immigrate to the U.S. illegally at the expense of citizens.
A refuge for whom? A sanctuary for whom? Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) said. A sanctuary for Kate Steinle? Or a refuge for a convicted felon with a 25-year-long criminal history?
Democrats accused House Republicans of bringing up the bill in part because of real estate mogul and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trumps focus on illegal immigration and sanctuary cities; they dubbed the bill the Donald Trump Act.
Just a few weeks into his campaign and Donald Trump has a bill on the floor of the House. That is better than some of the senators hes running against. Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (D-Ill.) said mockingly.
Republicans denied that Trump had any influence on their decision to bring up the legislation.
This is a valid concern that were voting on today, said Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-N.J.), who has often broken with his party on immigration in the past and said he finds Trumps comments offensive. Im not going to let Donald Trump dictate my vote.
Five Republicans joined all but six Democrats in opposing the measure.
The five Republicans who voted against the bill were Reps. Carlos Curbelo (Fla.), Bob Dold (Ill.), Dan Donovan (N.Y.), Pete King (N.Y.) and Dave Reichert (Wash.).
Six Democrats voted for the bill, in a break from previous immigration votes in which the party voted unanimously. The Democrats voting yes were centrist Reps. Ami Bera (Calif.), Jim Cooper (Tenn.), Henry Cuellar (Texas), Bill Keating (Mass.), Collin Peterson (Minn.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.).
The sanctuary city debate centers on laws that are aimed at encouraging illegal immigrants to report crimes to the police without fear of deportation.
Before Steinles death, the Federal Bureau of Prisons transferred Lopez-Sanchez to the San Francisco Police Department for an outstanding arrest warrant on drug charges.
But San Francisco authorities dropped the charges and released Lopez-Sanchez weeks later, despite a request from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to receive notification of a release given that Lopez-Sanchez was prioritized for deportation.
Democrats have argued that Lopez-Sanchez should have been deported even under the sanctuary statutes in San Francisco.
A coalition of 21 big-city mayors criticized the House bill and warned that cutting off federal law enforcement grants would weaken public safety efforts.
Overbroad immigration enforcement undermines safety for all, they wrote in a Thursday letter to lawmakers.
When immigrant residents can report crime without fear of deportation, immigrants are more willing to engage with local police and government institutions, our streets and neighborhoods are safer, and those who commit crime are more likely to be brought to justice.
The White House has threatened to veto the legislation, saying the proposal undermines current administration efforts to remove the most dangerous convicted criminals and doesnt enact comprehensive immigration reform.
Meanwhile, NumbersUSA, which advocates for reduced immigration levels, urged lawmakers to oppose the House bill because the group didnt think it went far enough.
More immigration enforcement legislation could hit the House floor in the coming months.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) said hes received a commitment from Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) to take additional action to ensure compliance with immigration laws.
Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa), one of the most ardent immigration hardliners in the House, said he received a similar assurance from McCarthy this week about future legislation.
beginning innnnnnnn .... 2034 ?
The Senate will crap on this... and if they don’t, it will be vetoed, with a speech by Obama that “This isn’t the inclusive America we all know.”
The Republic is lost until that man or his close representatives can’t walk the streets or make a public appearance without at least a little fear.
Peter King is a disgrace. I love the fact that they are crediting Trump for this bill. Of course, it’s because he brought up the subject that they are now looking at it. Maybe it should be called the Trump/Steinle Act. Not sure if I spelled her last name correctly or not. Hope so.
-——Jim Cooper [D] (Tenn.)——
Damn! hell must be freezing over
Make 0bama veto, show him for the criminal he is.
Peter King is a fool
Bump.
I used to think that way. But, he's shown himself so many times, what difference will one more make, especially when covered up with some nice-sounding, smarmy rhetoric?
In my sci-fi nightmares, I'm waiting for the day when he finally drops the mask, tells us he's the Son of Satan, and we're completely ensnared in his devices.
Obama has had to use his veto four times in 6.5 years.
Now that’s just embarrassing. And with what he has been up to, I’d say pathetic.
MItch the spineless one won’t let this pass the Senate.
PING
PING
That is the best possible outcome. Since no one is above the law those that oppose this will out themselves. Piglosi made a good start today.
only one NO from TN..Steve Cohen the D from Memphis...
Peter King is a fool.”
Apparently Dave Reichert here in Washington state is a fool, too. No money for his solicitations and he will get an earful.
Everyone knows that the Gay Mayor Murray of Seattle is a fool
Guess Washington state has two full-blown losers. Do we win the nincompoop award for most dummies?
Darn good...Maybe Cohen’s constituents will remember come election time and send him packing.
Sadly, we’ve got a lot of fools here in WA.
The progressive liberal democrat/rino communist uni-party (PLDRCU) will insure this deal will pass, they are tightly wound together, their goals are the same and they have the numbers.
They will let you think (as per usual) there is chance to defeat this but when have they working together not given obama what he wants, there may be a few minor insignificant issues one can point to as trying to fight but I don’t know of any... obama is the king, a king that makes King George look like girl scout, a king whose throne is right in the nations capitol.
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