House Approves Bill Denying Fed'l Funds To Cities/Counties That Prohibit Their Officials From Cooperating With Feds In Enforcing Fed'l Immigration Laws ("Sanctuary Cities")

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(July 24, 2015) -- As seen LIVE on LBREPORT.com on July 23, the House of Representatives voted 241-179 and passed HR 3009, a measure that would deny federal grants or assistance to a State or political subdivision (cities and counties) that prohibit its officials from taking certain actions (cooperating with federal officials) in enforcing federal immigration laws ("sanctuary cities.")

Debate was highly partisan. Only six Dems voted for the measure; only five Repubs voted against it. Local Congressmembers Alan Lowenthal (D, LB-west OC), Janice Hahn (D, Harbor/LA) and Linda Sanchez (D, Lakewood) voted "no." Congressman Dana Rohrabacher (R, coastal OC) voted "yes."

The measure was brought forward by Congressman Duncan Hunter (D., inland San Diego/Temecula) after a man who entered the U.S. illegally, whom federal officials had deported multiple times and sought to detain, was released by the San Francisco PD and then allegedly shot and killed a woman in San Francisco (a self-declared "sanctuary city.")

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In floor debate, Repubs cited House committee testimony a day earlier by victims and familymembers of violent crimes committed by persons illegally in the country, and said HR 3009 simply requires cities and counties to respect federal immigration laws if they want to receive federal funds. Dems argued that the measure would make the public less safe by harming efforts by local law enforcement to gain the cooperation of those not lawfully in the country and also urged what they called comprehensive immigration reform.

The measure now heads to Senate and an uncertain fate.

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