Senator Lankford Votes To End Sanctuary Cities

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator James Lankford (R-OK) voted today to end sanctuary city policies and released the following statement on the Senate’s failure to pass the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (S.3100) and Kate’s Law (S.2193):

“Under the Obama administration, the rule of law has unfortunately become more subjective. We need to decide, as a nation, whether we are going to honor and enforce our existing laws or not. It is outrageous that it’s been a year since Kate Steinle was killed on July 1 by a seven-time convicted felon who was still in the United States illegally. The bills that failed the Senate today, on sanctuary cities and Kate’s law, are needed to protect the American people from lawlessness and provide accountability.

“Why would any American want to protect convicted felons who are in the United States illegally? These bills are about the enforcement of our existing immigration laws and basic safety for our citizens – plain and simple.”

The Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act (S. 3100) would withhold certain federal funds from cities that provide a sanctuary for individuals who are being deported by federal immigration officials.

Kate’s Law (S. 2193) is named after Kate Steinle, who was shot and killed in San Francisco by an immigrant here illegally who had previously been convicted of seven felonies and deported five times. Three months before Kate’s death, the Department of Homeland Security asked San Francisco police to hold this man until the Department could pick him up, but the city refused to cooperate and instead released him. This legislation would enforce a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for any immigrant here illegally who re-enters the United States after having been convicted of an aggravated felony or after having been twice convicted of illegally re-entering the United States.

The Senate failed to invoke cloture on the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act by a vote of 53 to 44, and Kate’s Law by a vote of 55 to 42. Sixty votes were required to begin debate and consideration of both bills.

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