Time To ‘Help Protect American Lives’

Victims’ Families, Law Enforcement Groups Speak Out In Support of Legislation to Enact ‘Kate’s Law’ and to Address ‘Sanctuary Cities’

“Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., on Thursday announced the Senate would vote… on legislation to enact ‘Kate's Law,’ [and to] strip any jurisdiction qualifying as a ‘sanctuary city’ of federal grant money. ‘Kate's Law’ is a campaign to impose a penalty of a minimum of five years in prison for any illegal immigrant who is deported and then illegally re-enters the United States.” (“Senate To Vote On Bill Cracking Down On Sanctuary Cities,” Washington Examiner, 10/8/15)

‘Every Single Day, Law Officers… Are Forced To Release Criminal Aliens Who Pose A Threat To Community Safety’

JIM STEINLE, Father Of Kathryn Steinle: “Everywhere Kate went throughout the world, she shined the light of a good citizen from the United States of America. Unfortunately, due to unjointed laws and basic incompetence of the government, the US has suffered a self-inflicted wound in the murder of our daughter by the hand of a person that should have never been on the streets in this country. I say this because the alleged murderer is an undocumented immigrant who has been convicted of 7 felonies in the US and already deported 5 times. Yet, in March of this year, he was released from jail and allowed to stay here freely because of legal loopholes. It is unbelievable to see that so many innocent Americans have been killed by undocumented immigrant felons in recent years.” (Jim Steinle, Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, 7/21/15)

“We feel strongly that some legislation should be discussed, enacted and/or changed to take these undocumented immigrant felons off our streets for good. We would be proud to see Kate’s name associated with some of this new legislation. We feel that if Kate’s Law saves 1 daughter, 1 son, a mother or a father, Kate’s death won’t be in vain.” (Jim Steinle, Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, 7/21/15)

SUSAN OLIVER, Wife Of Deputy Sheriff Danny Oliver: “Every single day, law officers at the state, local, and federal level are forced to release criminal aliens who pose a threat to community safety—in violation of current laws that require deportation… The Administration’s tolerance of sanctuary cities has also resulted in another 10,000 potentially deportable arrested aliens being released by local law agencies since January of last year. And, 121 of the criminal aliens who’ve been ordered deported in the last few years were released by ICE have now been charged with additional homicide offenses. The man that killed my husband, Danny Oliver, was deported several times for various felonies. However, due to the lack of coordination between law enforcement agencies, he was allowed back into this country. Today I honor my husband, Deputy Danny Paul Oliver, and the other fallen heroes, who are always with us, in our hearts and in our memories. I wonder if we would be having this speech about my loss if the government enforced immigration laws as we see them in print.” (Susan Oliver, Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, 7/21/15)

BRIAN McCANN, Brother Of Dennis McCann: “I remain very concerned that the current immigration enforcement policies seem to encourage jurisdictions like Cook County and San Francisco to continue their noncooperation policies.” (Brian McCann, Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, 7/21/15)

“Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of this whole ordeal was that we also learned that this illegal alien was prosecuted for another felony two years earlier and ICE was never notified then. He was removed from probation February 2011 and four months later killed Denny. In short Denny would be alive today and enjoying the birth of a new granddaughter born two weeks ago if the Cook County criminal justice system that included the county board did their job.” (Brian McCann, Testimony to the Senate Judiciary Committee, 7/21/15)

THE REMEMBRANCE PROJECT: “On behalf of Americans killed by illegal aliens, and their surviving families, I thank you for introducing and advancing the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. We support this legislation that will address the reentry of illegal aliens, restrict federal funding of cities that operate as “sanctuary cities”, and that also supports and protects our law enforcement officers.” (Letter to Senators, The Remembrance Project, 10/14/15)

‘We Owe It To Kate And The American Citizenry To Fix This’

FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ASSOCIATION: “On behalf of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association (FLEOA), I thank you for introducing the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, which will empower federal and local law enforcement officers' cooperative efforts to better protect our communities and our citizenry. Your proposal will ensure we do not dishonor the memory of Kate Steinle and the immeasurable grief her family is enduring. It is critically important that all our law enforcement assets are synchronized in pursuing our shared responsibility of policing violent illegal aliens.” (Letter to Senators, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, 10/6/15)

“The Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act takes crucial steps to eliminating sanctuary jurisdictions, which serve to shelter illegal aliens while posing real threats to the American people… We owe it to Kate and the American citizenry to fix this critical community safety issue now.” (Letter to Senators, Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, 10/6/15)

NATIONAL SHERIFFS’ ASSOCIATION: “On behalf of the National Sheriffs’ Association and the more than 3,000 sheriffs nationwide, I write today in support of legislation you intend to introduce, the “Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect American Act.” This bill takes an important step in clarifying the definition of sanctuary jurisdictions while also offering additional protections for state and local officers.” (Letter to Senators, National Sheriffs’ Association, 10/6/15)

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POLICE ORGANIZATIONS: “On behalf of the National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO), I am writing to you to express our support for the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, which will enable federal and local law enforcement officers to work together to protect our communities.” (Letter to Senators, National Association Of Police Organizations,” 10/7/15)

“Furthermore, the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act takes crucial steps to eliminating sanctuary jurisdictions, which pose real threats to the American people, and increases penalties for criminals who re-enter the United States illegally, providing federal, state and local law enforcement vital tools to help keep our communities safe.” (Letter to Senators, National Association Of Police Organizations,” 10/7/15)

INTERNATIONAL UNION OF POLICE ASSOCIATIONS, AFL-CIO: “The International Association of Police Associations is proud to add our name to the list of supporters of the . . . Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. As it now stands, our officers can be held liable for sharing relevant information and honoring immigration detainers . . . This legislation remedies that. Additionally, the bill provides a financial disincentive for cities to become or remain sanctuary cities . . . . [A] political entity cannot expect funding from the federal government when that city or county has made a decision to ignore federal laws involving the very issues for which these funds were prescribed. Finally, this legislation will provide a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for those illegal aliens who have aggravated felony convictions and at least two prior convictions for unlawful entry. It is long past the time to end the revolving door of criminal aliens, who, even though convicted of felony criminal activity and deported, unlawfully return to prey upon our citizens. We both thank you and applaud you for this thoughtful and timely piece of legislation . . .” (Letter to Sen. Toomey, International Union Of Police Associations, AFL-CIO, 10/08/15)

###
SENATE REPUBLICAN COMMUNICATIONS CENTER

Related Issues: Immigration, Law Enforcement

Next Previous