Isakson, Perdue introduce legislation to crack down on sanctuary cities

I stand in full support of cities and local communities that enforce the law, and I will continue working to hold accountable those who choose not to follow the rule of law.”

“Sanctuary cities are inviting illegal activity and violent crime into our country and this must stop now,” said Sen. Perdue. “The family of Kate Steinle and thousands of other innocent Americans should not be victimized by these cities’ dangerous policies. It is irresponsible for the Obama Administration to allow sanctuary cities to harbor illegal criminals and thwart federal immigration laws. We will use every tool at our disposal to make sure these cities enforce our nation’s laws.”

In addition to Isakson and Perdue, co-sponsors of the bill, authored by Sen. David Vitter, R-La., include Senators John Barrasso, R-Wyo., John Cornyn, R-Texas, Ted Cruz, R-Texas, Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Ron Johnson, R-Wis., Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, and Pat Toomey, R-Penn.

In order to curb the formation and/or continuation of sanctuary cities, this legislation would help provide transparency by requiring the Department of Homeland Security to publicly list which jurisdictions are deemed sanctuary jurisdictions.

The Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act also establishes Kate’s Law, which requires a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for illegal immigrants who are convicted of re-entering the United States after being convicted of an aggravated felony or being convicted of having illegally re-entered the United States twice prior.

Currently, there are approximately 170,000 convicted criminal aliens who have been ordered to be deported, but remain at large in the United States. Over 200 cities currently provide safehaven as sanctuary cities.

Georgia passed legislation to prohibit sanctuary cities and it was signed into law in 2009.

The legislation is supported by National Association of Police Organizations ( NAPO); the National Sheriffs Association, and Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA); International Union of Police Associations, AFL-CIO; and the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR).