The recent killing of 32-year old Kathryn Steinle, allegedly shot by an illegal immigrant who had already been deported five times, has sparked a debate over cities that don't carry out all federal immigration laws.
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), a presidential contender, as well as Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), have filed an amendment to the Every Child Achieves Act, the Senate's overhaul of the Bush-era No Child Left Behind law, that would redirect funding meant for sanctuary cities to state and local governments that comply with federal law.
Sessions accused officials of “deliberately and openly” disregarding federal immigration laws as an “act of defiance.”
“Congress has an obligation to ensure limited taxpayer dollars are not given to cities and counties who refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement,” he said.
Republican Sen. David Vitter, who is running for governor in Louisiana, has also introduced an amendment cracking down on sanctuary cities to the education bill.
But tying the immigration measure to the education bill, which has so far managed to avoid any political landmines, would likely sink the legislation, which has the strong support of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
The conservative push to punish sanctuary cities comes as congressional Democrats have walked a fine line in the wake of the shooting.
Democrats have pressed for more details, but been careful to not directly blame San Francisco’s laws for Steinle’s death, and have shown even less appetite for limiting federal funding to the more than 200 sanctuary cities in the United States.
Republicans have sought to raise pressure on Democrats over the issue.
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