Senate Bill Against Sanctuary Cities Voted Down

This week on October, 20 2015, in a 54 to 45 vote, the Senate blocked S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, from advancing to the Senate floor.  The bill required a super majority of 60 votes to move forward.   If passed, the bill would have limited grants to cities that do not comply with detainers issued by DHS and increase penalties for individual who illegally reenter the United States.  Furthermore, funding would have been denied to those cities deemed “sanctuary jurisdictions” where local law enforcement, among other things, did not check immigration status upon arrest.  I discussed the bill in greater detail in a previous blog.

Senator David Vitter, R-La., introduced the legislation, which included a provision known as Kate’s Law, named after 32-year-old Kate Steinle, who was fatally shot by an undocumented person in San Francisco on July 1. The bill would have imposed a mandatory minimum jail sentence of five years for undocumented persons who are convicted of re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony or have three strikes for trying to enter the country illegally.

Before the vote, Senator Vitter wrote: “Sanctuary cities and the associated violent crimes by illegal immigrants are reaching a critical point, and we cannot wait any longer to take action to protect Americans here at home.”

Opponents of the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act questioned the taxpayer cost of implementing mandatory minimums at a time when Congress is working to reform the criminal justice system.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) urged the Senate to vote no on the motion to proceed in a statement authored by the Director of Advocacy for the AILA, Greg Chen.  According to Chen, “[c]ontrary to its stated purpose, this bill will not make communities safer. In fact, it will undermine public safety by penalizing and denying funding to states and local law enforcement agencies that are working to build trust within their communities.” AILA statement.

The White House also opposed the bill, providing in a strong written statement: “The Administration strongly opposes S. 2146. This bill fails to offer comprehensive reforms needed to fix the Nation’s broken immigration laws and undermines current Administration efforts to remove the most dangerous convicted criminals and to work collaboratively with State and local law enforcement agencies.”

Had the bill passed  the President was prepared to veto the bill.

Recommended Articles

SCOTUS Resolves Circuit Split and Rejects 9th Circuit’s More Lenient Cancellation of Removal Standard

SCOTUS clarified that a legal permanent resident alien can be physically in the U.S., commit a criminal offense, and still be inadmissible.

Former Informants Are Not Protected Group

Fifth Circuit: Former Informants Are Not Protected Group

New Shelters for Surge of Migrant Youths Crossing Border

The Secretary of Health and Human Services has asked the Pentagon to add 5,000 more beds for young people. During last year’s surge of undocumented persons, the military opened emergency shelters to house the migrants at bases in Oxnard, San Antonio and Ft. Sill, Oklahoma.

Deported Immigrants with Mental Disabilities

On September 26th, 2015 U.S. District Judge Dolly M. Gee granted final approval of the settlement in Franco v. Holder, paving the way for previously deported immigrants with severe mental disabilities to request to reopen their cases in Immigration Court, and if approved return to the United States.

Attorney Failed to Explain Immigration Consequences | Ninth Circuit

The defense attorney has an affirmative duty to properly advise. It is not enough to say it is a “possibility” under those circumstances.

About Michael Harwin

Michael’s skill and experience have been recognized repeatedly. He holds an A-V 5/5 preeminent rating by Martindale Hubbell. He has been named one of the top lawyers in Arizona by Southwest Superlawyers, and one of the best lawyers in Tucson by Tucson Lifestyle Magazine. He also has been named one of the best lawyers in the United States by BestofUS.com , and given the highest rating possible by AVVO, 10/10 Superb. Amazon Books