Voting Report: Senators Kill Anti-Sanctuary City Bill
Tuesday afternoon, the U.S. Senate had an opportunity bring justice to the family of Kate Steinle, the law-abiding American citizen who was tragically shot and killed on July 1 in San Francisco by an illegal alien with seven convictions and five previous deportations. Yet, nearly all Senate Democrats banded together to defeat S. 2146, the “Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act” by a 54-45 vote (with 60 “yes” votes needed). Only Democratic Sens. Joe Donnelly and Joe Manchin had the courage to cross party lines, while pro-amnesty GOP Sen. Mark Kirk joined the Democrats in opposing this commonsense bill that would protect American lives.
S. 2146 was a bill to hold sanctuary jurisdictions accountable for defying Federal law, to increase penalties for individuals who illegally reenter the United States after being removed, and to provide liability protection for State and local law enforcement who cooperate with Federal law enforcement and for other purposes.
This outcome is outrageous for several reasons. First, yesterday’s vote was only a procedural vote to begin debating the bill. By obstructing the legislative process and not even addressing the bill’s merits, pro-amnesty Democrats demonstrated the extreme measures they are willing to take to protect all illegal aliens from immigration enforcement. Additionally, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA)—who was Kate Steinle’s Senator—cast the decisive 41st“no” vote that officially killed the bill. Similarly, Kate Steinle’s other Senator, Diane Feinstein (D-CA) also voted “no” despite saying shortly after Ms. Steinle was killed that her death “could have been avoided” if San Francisco did not have a sanctuary policy. Notably, Feinstein instituted San Francisco’s first sanctuary policy back in 1985 when she was mayor.
Combined, this was a slap in the face to the Steinle family heard around the nation!
Vote Counts: 54 YEAs (52 Republicans 2 Democrats) 45 NAYs (42 Democrats, 2 Independents, 1 Republican) 1 Not Voting (1 Republican)
While yesterday’s vote was unsuccessful, at least every Senator is now on record. Do you know how your Senators voted? Click here to find out.