Sanctuary Cities News
Coverage of local government decisions on sanctuary laws and their consequences. The Daily Signal examines the clash between state sovereignty, federal enforcement, and community safety.
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Child Rape Case Inspires Lawmaker to Fight Philadelphia’s Sanctuary City Policy
An illegal immigrant living in Philadelphia has been charged with raping a child, spurring opponents of the city’s “sanctuary” policy to use his arrest to bolster their argument that such practices leave dangerous criminals on the streets. Pennsylvania state Rep. Martina White, a Republican, says the alleged rapist, Ramon Aguirre-Ochoa, a 45-year-old Honduran national, avoided…Josh Siegel -
Meet the State Lawmaker Who Wants to Slap $5K-a-Day Fines on Sanctuary City Officials
A Florida state senator proposes to impose a fine of up to $5,000 a day on officials of “sanctuary cities” who don’t follow federal immigration enforcement policies. “In Florida, [sanctuary cities] enjoy sovereign immunity, meaning they’re shielded from being sued on any of their decisions in conducting their business,” state Sen. Aaron Bean, sponsor of the bill, told…Leah Jessen -
His Brother Was Killed by an Illegal Immigrant in 2011. Now, He’s Angry the Senate Blocked the Sanctuary Cities Bill.
Brian McCann is angry. Two days before his brother Denny McCann’s birthday, Democrats in the Senate blocked a bill that would have withheld federal funding for sanctuary cities, cities that refuse to work with federal immigration officers and turn over immigrants living in the country illegally. Denny McCann, who was walking in a crosswalk in…Melissa Quinn -
See How Your Senators Voted on Sanctuary Cities
Senate Democrats blocked legislation that would punish “sanctuary cities” in a 54-45 vote Tuesday afternoon. The bill, called the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, needed to overcome a 60-vote threshold. It would withhold certain federal funding from states or cities that refuse to comply with requests from federal immigration officials to turn over immigrants…Kelsey Bolar -
There Are Now 340 Sanctuary Cities. Find Out If There’s One Near You.
Sanctuary cities are growing in the United States, leading to a spike of 340 jurisdictions that shield undocumented immigrants from federal immigration law. The Center for Immigration Studies published an interactive map showing the locations of the sanctuaries, revealing scattered pinpoints across the country. You can view that map here. Sanctuary policies vary from state…Natalie Johnson -
The Number of Victims Shows There’s No Excuse for Sanctuary Cities
A litigation battle is raging between the states and President Barack Obama over his attempt to impose a nationwide “sanctuary” policy for illegal aliens. Yet there is no question that existing sanctuary policies implemented by numerous towns and cities have victimized innocent Americans. Those sanctuary policies have enabled illegal aliens to commit thousands of crimes—crimes…Hans von Spakovsky -
Why Chris Christie Wants to Defund Sanctuary Cities
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says the next president of the United States should make sure federal dollars don’t flow to sanctuary cities. “Withdraw federal funding from cities that don’t or are unwilling to enforce the federal immigration law,” Christie told The Daily Signal at the RedState Gathering this weekend in Atlanta. The issue of sanctuary…David Brody -
Chris Christie Calls for Sanctuary Cities to Lose Federal Funding: ‘The Law Is the Law’
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa— Speaking at a sports bar in a college town here, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie called for funding to be taken away from cities that do not enforce federal immigration laws. “The laws on the books need to be enforced,” said Christie, who is seeking the Republican nomination for president. “People selectively…Leah Jessen -
Jim DeMint on Americans’ Views of Sanctuary Cities: ‘Anger is Building’
Former Sen. Jim DeMint, president of The Heritage Foundation, spoke to Fox News today about sanctuary cities. “Millions of Americans are angry about this,” DeMint said. “Americans don’t understand why we don’t protect our border, why cities like San Francisco ignore our federal laws and allow convicted felons who are illegal to stay and live…Daily Signal Staff -
Kate Steinle’s Father: ‘Self-Inflicted Wound’ of Sanctuary Cities Caused My Daughter’s Death
The father of Kathryn Steinle, the 32-year-old woman fatally shot earlier this month by an illegal immigrant, made a powerful appeal before Congress Tuesday urging lawmakers to close the “legal loopholes” allowing the release of undocumented immigrants with prior criminal records back onto U.S. streets. "Due to disjointed laws and basic incompetence at many levels,…Natalie Johnson -
‘Control the Purse Strings’: Opponents Plot to Stop Sanctuary Cities
Does the murder of Kate Steinle spell the end of sanctuary cities in the United States? Lou Barletta hopes so. Barletta, a Republican congressman from Pennsylvania, said Wednesday at a National Press Club event in Washington, D.C., that Congress has the power to end sanctuary cities. “We control the money, and if we really want…Samantha Reinis -
You’ve Heard of Sanctuary Cities. But Do You Know What They Are?
In the wake of a San Francisco shooting that garnered national attention, the immigration debate has centered on sanctuary cities. Sanctuary policies differ from city to city, but generally the policies instruct city employees and law enforcement to not ask the immigration status of criminal suspects. According to the Center for Immigration Studies, more than…Alex Anderson -
Tim Huelskamp’s Plan for How Lawmakers Can Hold Sanctuary Cities Accountable
One conservative congressman thinks lawmakers should take action on sanctuary cities. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan., believes lawmakers have a unique tool to use on the issue of sanctuary cities. “What we can do is use the power of the purse to hold this administration accountable, hold these cities accountable,” he told The Daily Signal in…Jamie Jackson -
Rick Perry on Sanctuary Cities: ‘This Is About the Security of This Country’
HAMPTON, Iowa—Campaigning here Monday afternoon, former Texas Gov. Rick Perry said that all federal funding must be cut off to sanctuary cities that refuse to assist in helping the federal government enforce immigration laws. Sanctuary cities have been a controversial topic in the news after San Francisco officials released from custody an illegal immigrant who…Leah Jessen -
Cartoon: Sanctuary Cities vs. Non-Sanctuary Cities
The Heritage Foundation's Hans von Spakovsky wrote about sanctuary cities and Kate Steinle's murder this week: After admitting to shooting and killing 32-year-old Kate Steinle, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an illegal alien, was asked why he had come to San Francisco. He responded that “he knew San Francisco was a sanctuary city where he would not…Glenn Foden -
Is Your City a Sanctuary City? This Map Has the Answer.
Is your city a sanctuary city? The Center for Immigration Studies has released an interactive map depicting cities, counties and states that are “sanctuaries” for immigrants who are in the country illegally. >>>View interactive map here The map shows over 200 sanctuary cities, counties and states nationwide. Sanctuary cities are cities or jurisdictions where local authorities…Kate Scanlon -
GOP Lawmakers Push Obama Administration to Get Tough on Sanctuary Cities After San Francisco Killing
Republican lawmakers in the House and Senate are pressing the Obama administration to get tough with San Francisco and other jurisdictions that don’t cooperate on immigration enforcement, after the fatal shooting of a woman on a popular stretch of the California city’s waterfront. The man accused of the July 1 killing is an illegal immigrant…Ken McIntyre -
Ben Carson: Sanctuary Cities for Illegal Immigrants Are ‘Ridiculous’
BEDFORD, N.H.—Ben Carson, a retired pediatric neurosurgeon and Republican presidential candidate, called the concept of sanctuary cities for illegal immigrants “ridiculous” during a campaign stop today at the Bedford Village Inn. Carson was referring to a recent murder in San Francisco, where an alleged killer was released from custody despite having been deported from the…Kate Scanlon