WASHINGTON — The U.S. Senate voted Tuesday on the controversial “sanctuary cities” bill which, if passed, would have allowed the federal government to withhold funds to local governments that choose not to cooperate with federal immigration laws and officials. The Republican-backed bill was filibustered by Senate Democrats on a vote of 54-45, it needed 60 to pass the Senate.
Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) slammed Senate Democrats who blocked the bill.
“Today Senate Democrats blocked legislation to address one of the biggest, most egregious, and most dangerous wrongs now occurring in our immigration system today: Sanctuary Cities,” Sessions wrote in a press release.
The Stop Sanctuary Cities Act was made a priority by Republicans following the murder of California woman Katie Steinle earlier this year, who was shot and killed by an illegal immigrant, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, while walking at San Francisco’s Pier 14 in early July.
Sanchez, at the time of the murder, had a felony record and been deported to Mexico five times, but even with a federal immigration detainer request, the city sheriff released him once an old marijuana charge was dropped.
“This bill would have been a modest but valuable first step towards ending the massive, unprecedented illegality,” said Sessions. “Sanctuary cities are together freeing an average of 1,000 criminal aliens a month. Countless crimes are happening as a result of these never-ending releases: DUIs, assaults, burglaries, drug crimes, gang crimes, and murders.”
The Stop Sanctuary Cities Act was rejected by Senate Democrats and others who opposed the bill had resorted to calling it “The Donald Trump Act,” trying to discredit any legitimacy.
“Votes to filibuster this bill were votes for continued bloodshed, for more parents burying more children, for more senseless tragedy,” stated Sessions. “This filibuster today makes clear that the Democratic Party not only has no intention of ending this lawless abuse, but desires to see it continued.”
A summary of the proposed bill can be found here.
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— John James (@john_james_20) August 19, 2015
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