Sessions: Feds could charge city officials who harbor illegals

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July 8, 2015

WASHINGTON, D.C. — After 32 year-old Kathryn Steinle was allegedly shot by an illegal immigrant last Wednesday in San Francisco, the perpetual hot-button issue of border security has pushed its way back to the forefront of political conversation. Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) believes that officials in so-called Sanctuary Cities could actually be charged for not informing the Federal Government of their harboring of alien felons.

“I guess you could make it a crime. I’m not aware that it is a crime, but they could be charged. There may be something in the code,” Sessions said in an interview withThe Daily Caller. “To me, it’s just unthinkable — as United States attorney I had a bunch of cities and every day holds are filed. So many criminals have committed crimes in multiple jurisdictions.”

The suspect, Francisco Sanchez, had previously been deported five times but a 2013 law adopted by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors limits the conditions under which those arrested could be placed in federal immigration holds. According to city statute, only people with violent records can be held for possible deportation.

“This disregarding of detainers and releasing persons that ICE has put a hold on — it goes against all traditions of law enforcement,” Sessions added. “Laws and courtesies within departments — if you have somebody charged with a crime in one city, you hold them until you complete your business with them.”

“The other city wants to charge them with an important crime files a detainer and when you’re finished, they’re sent to the next one to face the charges there. They’re not released,” he said expressing his frustration with the impracticality and the possibility that the criminal could “murder somebody in the interim.”

Sessions explained, “So what was happening was, ICE authorities were filing detainers and sanctuary cities were saying, ‘We’re not gonna honor them. They finished paying for the crime they committed in our city — we’ve released them.’”

If it were up to Sessions, no city or county that failed to comply with Congress and Federal Law Enforcement would get any additional money until they obey the law.

Sanchez was arrested last Wednesday and the motive for the attack is still unknown.