A dozen states are looking to ban ‘sanctuary cities’

*This surge in banning sanctuary cities began after the murder of Kathryn Steinle in San Francisco. The U.S. Congress tried but failed to pass a ban. So now state legislatures are taking it upon themselves to do it. The bills will bar local law enforcement officials from refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials and withdraw state funding from cities with sanctuary policies. VL

By Melissa Hellman, Associated Press

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — State lawmakers returning to work are putting immigration issues on the agenda, with Kansas among about a dozen states considering measures against so-called sanctuary cities that would bar local law enforcement officials from refusing to cooperate with federal immigration officials.

The Kansas bills would ban sanctuary cities and withdraw state funding from cities with sanctuary policies. State legislators said the measures would protect citizens from incidents like the July killing of San Francisco woman Kathryn Steinle. The man charged in her death is a Mexican living in the country illegally who was released from jail even though federal agents wanted him detained for deportation.

At least a dozen states now considering similar legislation include Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin, said Ann Morse of the National Conference of State Legislatures. North Carolina was one of the first states to sign prohibitions on sanctuary policies into law last year.

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