[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Pages 16085-16086]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SANCTUARY CITIES BILL

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, just before the State work period, I 
asked Senators to consider some important questions: In a time of 
limited Federal resources and tough choices, is it fair to treat 
localities that cooperate with Federal law enforcement or work hard to 
follow Federal law no better than localities that refuse to help or 
actually actively flout the law? When a deputy sheriff puts her life on 
the line every day, is it fair to make her live in constant fear of 
being sued for simply trying to keep us safe? When felons enter our 
country illegally and repeatedly, is it fair to victims and families to 
not do what we can now to stop them?
  The answer is that it isn't fair. That is why colleagues should 
support the legislation we will consider this afternoon. It aims to 
ensure more fairness to cities and States that do the right thing, 
redirecting certain Federal funds to them from those that choose not to 
do the right thing. It aims to support law enforcement officers who 
risk everything for our safety, protecting them from lawsuits for 
simply doing their federally mandated duties. It aims to deliver 
justice for victims and their families, substantially increasing 
deterrence for criminals who commit felonies and then try to illegally 
reenter our country--endeavoring to save more Americans from the pain 
these families continue to experience every day.
  We all know the heartbreaking story of Kate Steinle. Kate was walking 
arm in arm with her father one moment, begging for help the next as she 
began bleeding to death in his arms. The man who ended her life 
shouldn't have even been there that day. He had been convicted of 
seven--seven--felonies and deported five times, but San Francisco is a 
so-called sanctuary city that arbitrarily decides when it will 
cooperate with the Federal Government and when it will not, and it 
refused to even honor the Federal Government's request for an 
immigration detainer.
  What happened to Kate is tragic, and it is not an isolated incident. 
Consider this letter from Susan Oliver, who lost her husband just last 
year. Here is what she had to say:

       The man that killed my husband, Deputy Danny Oliver, was 
     deported several times for various felonies. However, due to 
     the lack of coordination between law enforcement agencies, 
     his killer was allowed back into the country. . . .
       I [am] asking for only one thing. I do not want your 
     sympathy, I want change so others will not have to endure the 
     grief we have in our lives every day.

  The bill which we will consider this afternoon is supported by law 
enforcement organizations such as the National Sheriffs' Association, 
the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the National 
Association of Police Organizations.
  Here is what the International Union of Police Associations had to 
say about it:

       The International Union of Police Associations is proud--

  Proud--

     to add our name to the list of supporters of the bill 
     addressing ``Sanctuary Cities'' titled Stop Sanctuary 
     Policies and Protect Americans Act.
       As it now stands, our officers can be held liable for 
     sharing relevant information and honoring immigration 
     detainers, even when they are from federal immigration 
     officials. This legislation remedies that.
       Additionally, the bill provides a financial disincentive 
     for cities to become or remain ``sanctuary cities''. . . .

  The organization also noted that this bill would help end the 
``revolving door'' of criminals who ``even though convicted of felony 
criminal activity and deported, unlawfully return to prey upon our 
citizens.''
  The issue before us is not truly about immigration; it is more about 
keeping our communities safe. Those who defend so-called sanctuary 
cities callously disregard how their extreme policies hurt others. The 
President's own DHS Secretary has used terms such as ``not acceptable'' 
and ``counterproductive to public safety'' when referring to sanctuary 
city policies. Such extreme policies can inflict almost unimaginable 
pain on innocent victims and their families.
  As the father of three daughters, I know--I know--we can do better. I 
am calling on every colleague to put compassion before leftwing 
ideology today. This bill would support the deputy sheriff who puts her 
life on the line every day. This bill would provide hope and justice 
for victims and their families. So let's vote to support them, not 
defend extreme policies that actually hurt them.

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