Rep. Duncan Hunter plans to introduce legislation to penalize so-called “sanctuary” cities like San Francisco that do not actively assist federal authorities with deportation of undocumented immigrants.
The planned legislation was first reported by the conservative website Breitbart News and confirmed by Hunter’s staff on Tuesday.
“States and cities that refuse to enforce federal immigration laws directly undermine enforcement efforts and — as recent events have shown — present a real danger to citizens,” Hunter said in a statement.
The Republican who represents most of east San Diego County was referring to the tragic killing of a young woman in San Francisco last week by a convicted felon who had previously been deported from the United States five times.
San Francisco has a law which prevents city workers from fully cooperating with federal immigration authorities.
Hunter’s bill would amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to restrict funding to any state or locality that has in place a laws or procedures that prevent enforcement of federal immigration law.