FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 6, 2016

“Who in good conscience can argue that this lawlessness should continue?”

 WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator David Perdue (R-GA), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement after he voted to defund sanctuary cities that refuse to enforce our immigration laws and to establish mandatory minimums for illegal reentry offenses:

“Our country prides itself on being a nation of laws and these laws must be enforced uniformly across the country. Unfortunately, this is not happening. Today, more than 300 cities are needlessly endangering the lives of their law-abiding residents by refusing to enforce our current immigration laws and carry out deportations issued by the federal government. This is not just childish political posturing, it is an abhorrent disregard for the law and has led to the death of innocent Americans.

“One year ago, a young woman named Kate Steinle was killed by an illegal alien felon San Francisco refused to detain. Federal law enforcement officials had issued a detainer for this individual, a convicted felon who had been deported five times. Citing its sanctuary city policy, San Francisco ignored the detainer. Who in good conscience can argue that this lawlessness should continue? It is a very sad day when Congress cannot come together to stop rogue cities from breaking our nation’s laws, protect the livelihood of all American citizens, and support our law enforcement officials.”

In addition Kate’s Law, Senator Perdue has cosponsored the following bills to stop sanctuary jurisdictions and further protect families:

• S. 291, the Keep Our Communities Safe Act to strengthen the requirements for the detention and removal of illegal aliens.

• S. 2146, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act to withhold federal grants from cities refusing to enforce immigration laws.

• S. 1762, the Establishing Mandatory Minimums for Illegal Reentry Act of 2015 to increase penalties applicable to aliens who unlawfully reenter the United States after being removed.

• S. 1640, the Michael Davis, Jr. and Danny Oliver in Honor of State and Local Law Enforcement Act to withhold federal funding for any jurisdictions that refuse to comply with federal law.