U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., announced this week that he is backing “Kate’s Law,” a proposal from U.S. Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz., to ensure deported illegals who return to the U.S. face at least five years in jail, and cutting off federal funds to states and cities that resist current immigration laws and offer sanctuary to illegals.
The law is named after Kate Steinle who was killed in San Francisco at the start of the month by an illegal who had been deported five times after being convicted on multiple felonies. San Francisco is a sanctuary city that is not working with the federal government on deporting illegals.
Yoho explained on Tuesday why the bill was needed and took aim at President Barack Obama’s policies.
“The administration has no intention of securing our southern border, enforcing current immigration laws, or holding sanctuary cities accountable,” Yoho said on Tuesday. “These cities blatantly thumb their nose at the federal government by declaring themselves sanctuaries and refusing to cooperate with immigration officials.
“Unfortunately we don’t have to look very hard for evidence that these failed policies pose a threat to American citizens all across the country – as we have seen with the tragic murder in San Francisco recently,” Yoho added. “Before taking an innocent life, the perpetrator in that case was in the custody of local law enforcement and then released – after previously being deported five times!
“Today I am supporting legislation that will target criminals here illegally and stop all federal funding to states, cities, and localities who fail to enforce federal immigration laws or fail to work with immigration officials,” Yoho said in conclusion. “It is beyond time to fight against the forces that are willfully weakening this country and putting our own citizens in danger.”
Democrats have stood against the bill and this week a spokeswoman for U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told the San Francisco Chronicle that the bill was not needed.
“The United States already imprisons people for illegal re-entry, and a report from the (Department of Homeland Security) Office of Inspector General states that this has not proven to reduce or deter future returns,” Evangeline George from Pelosi’s team told the Chronicle. “This proposed legislation would not resolve the issue of either re-entry or communications among agencies.”
The Republican leadership in Congress has yet to back the proposal. Bill O’Reilly from Fox News is gathering petitions, trying to get 1 million Americans to tell U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, to back the bill.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
