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Washington -
U.S.
Senator
Tim
Scott
released
the
statement
below
after
Senate
Democrats
today
blocked
consideration
of
the
Stop
Sanctuary
Policies
and
Protect
Americans
Act.
Scott
is
a
cosponsor
of
the
bill,
which
would withhold
certain
federal
funding
from
sanctuary
states
or
cities
that
fail
to
comply
with
Department
of
Homeland
Security
(DHS)
issued
detainer
requests
for
illegal
immigrants.
"By
refusing
to
comply
with
federal
immigration
laws
and
immigration
authorities,
sanctuary
cities
are
knowingly
creating
an
environment
where
criminals
feel
welcome
and
where
repeat
offenders
know
they
can
go
without
fear
of
repercussions,”
Scott
said. “As
the
tragic
murder
of
Kate
Steinle
in
San
Francisco
and
so
many
other
senseless
deaths
of
innocent
Americans
show
us,
the Obama
Administration’s
acceptance
and
even
support
of
sanctuary
policies
provides
one
more
piece
of
the
puzzle
for
those
seeking
to
come
to
our
country
with
malice
in
their
hearts.”
Scott
continued,
“I am
disappointed
Senate
Democrats
blocked
this
common
sense
measure
that
strengthens
our
nation’s
immigration
laws
while
going
after
real
criminals
who
not
only
are
in
the
United
States
illegally,
but
are
either
committing
further
crimes
or
repeatedly
reentering
the
country
after
being
deported.
I will
continue
working
to
end
these
sanctuary
policies,
secure
our
border,
and
strengthen
America’s
immigration
policies."
Studies
show
there
are
nearly
300
sanctuary
cities,
and
more
than
340
total
jurisdictions
supporting
sanctuary
policies,
across
the
nation. To
curb
the
formation
and
or
continuation
of
sanctuary
cities,
the
Stop
Sanctuary
Policies
and
Protect
Americans
Act:
- Defines
a
sanctuary
jurisdiction
as
a
state
or
locality
that
prohibits
its
law
enforcement
officers
from
cooperating
with
federal
immigration
officials,
even
if
they
wish
to
do
so;
- Provides
transparency
by
requiring
DHS
to
publicly
list
which
jurisdictions
are
deemed
sanctuary
jurisdictions;
- Withholds
certain
federal
funds
and
grants
from
sanctuary
jurisdictions;
- Requires
that
those
withheld
funds
are
re-allocated
and
made
available
to
other
state
and
localities
jurisdictions
that
allow
their
local
law
enforcement
to
cooperate
with
federal
officials;
- Confirms
that
local
law
enforcement
have
the
legal
authority
to
cooperate
with
federal
immigration
officials
if
they
wish,
while
protecting
individuals’
civil
rights
and
preserving
individuals’
ability
to
sue
for
violations
of
civil
and
constitutional
rights.
- Establishes
a
mandatory
minimum
sentence
of
5
years
for
illegal
immigrants
who
are
convicted
of
re-entering
the
U.S.
after
being
convicted
of
an
aggravated
felony
or
being
convicted
of
having
illegally
re-entered
the
U.S.
twice
prior
(also
known
as
Kate’s
Law).
The
Stop
Sanctuary
Cities
and Protect
American
Act is
endorsed
by
the
Federal
Law
Enforcement
Officers
Association,
the
National
Association
of
Police
Organizations,
and
the
National
Sheriffs’
Association,
in
addition
to
organizations
that
represent
victims
of
illegal
immigration.
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