WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today voted to block federal funding from going to so-called “sanctuary cities” that do not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement.

“Sanctuary cities provide a safe haven for those who ignore our laws,” Roberts said. “Many of these are criminals that have been deported for a serious reason. It’s a tragedy it took Kate Steinle’s death to show the country the danger of sanctuary cities. This is a reasonable measure to keep our citizens safe.”

The Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act, S. 2146, increases penalties for illegal reentries and blocks funding from three different grant programs from being awarded to sanctuary cities.

At issue was the murder of Kate Steinle, a woman who was shot and killed on a San Francisco pier as she was walking with her father. The shooter was an illegal immigrant who had previously been convicted of seven felonies and deported five times. Just three months earlier, the Department of Homeland Security had asked San Francisco police to hold this man until they could pick him up. Because San Francisco is a sanctuary city, the city refused to comply with federal immigration laws and instead released the shooter.

The bill has been endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Association of Police Organizations, and the National Sheriffs’ Association, in addition to organizations that represent victims of illegal immigration.

Unfortunately the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure with a vote of 54-45.

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