WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives on Thursday voted to punish local jurisdictions that defy federal immigration authorities to protect immigrants living illegally in the United States.
The 241-179 vote, which was backed by Republican leaders and occurred largely along party lines, is the most dramatic action taken by Congress against so-called “sanctuary cities” after a spate of new attention on illegal immigration sparked by the July 1 killing of a 32-year-old California woman.
The shooting of Kathryn Steinle on a San Francisco pier, allegedly at the hands of an immigrant in the U.S. illegally and who was released from local police custody despite a detention request from federal authorities, has sparked a national debate — one that has been turbocharged by the remarks of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Steinle’s father testified before a Senate committee Tuesday and again before a House committee Thursday, calling on Congress to take action.
Her accused killer, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, has seven felony convictions since 1991 and has been deported five times from the United States to Mexico.
Under the legislation voted on Thursday, cities that do not comply fully with federal immigration authorities would be ineligible for various Justice Department law enforcement grants, including a program that reimburses local jurisdictions for the cost of detaining immigrants in the U.S. illegally who are accused of or convicted of crimes.
As of Thursday evening, aides to U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette said the Denver Democrat still was investigating how much the legislation would affect the city and neighboring jurisdictions — although it appeared likely the measure would have some impact.
DeGette voted against it and afterward criticized the bill’s intent.”Instead of solving our underlying immigration issues, this bill would stoke fear and uncertainty within our community,” she said in a statement.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, also spoke out Thursday, citing the “preventable” Steinle killing. “The House is acting today to put state and local officials on notice that we’ll no longer allow them to decide how and when to enforce our nation’s laws,” he told reporters.
But a number of law enforcement organizations, civil rights groups and the U.S. Conference of Mayors have pushed back, arguing that new policies would undermine trust between local law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve.
