Two Democrats broke rank and sided with Republicans on Tuesday blocked legislation to crack down on cities that don't comply with federal immigration law.

 

A view of the Golden Gate Bridge from Marshal beach

Wikipedia.org

The Hill

October 20, 2015, 02:51 pm

Senate Dems block 'sanctuary cities' bill

 

By Jordain Carney

Senate Democrats on Tuesday blocked legislation to crack down on cities that don't comply with federal immigration law.

Senators voted 54-45 on a measure to end debate on legislation from Sen. David Vitter. Sixty votes were needed to overcome the procedural hurdle and move toward a vote on the bill itself.
Two Democrats broke rank and sided with Republicans in the vote.

The Louisiana Republican’s legislation would have limited federal grants to so-called "sanctuary cities" and increased penalties for undocumented immigrants who reenter the United States illegally after being deported.

Vitter argued that Democrats misunderstand the legislation, saying that "there are a lot of myths about our bill versus the facts."

"We have several myths versus facts as part of the record, and I urge everyone, starting with our colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, to study that carefully," he added. "This is an important issue. Sanctuary cities are a real problem, and we need to fix them."

The issue of sanctuary cities captured the political spotlight in July after the death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle, allegedly at the hands of an illegal immigrant who had already been deported five times.  

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) referenced Steinle's shooting ahead of the vote, pressuring Democrats to "put compassion before left-wing ideology today."

But Democrats were intent on blocking Vitter's legislation from moving forward, suggesting that it undercut law enforcement and was an unacceptable substitute for a broader immigration reform proposal.

"Today's vote is nothing but a political show vote. Senator Vitter knows his legislation has no chance of passing the Senate or being signed into law," Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) said ahead of the vote.

Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also derided the bill on Monday, calling it "vile" and the "Donald Trump Act," after the 2016 GOP front-runner.

Read More Here