Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) today continued his fight to protect our communities from violent criminals and suspected terrorists who are in the U.S. illegally by introducing the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act.

Sen. Toomey's legislation would withhold certain federal funds from "sanctuary cities" -- jurisdictions that forbid their local law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration officials, even when they wish to do so.

Too often, local law enforcement officers want to work with the Obama administration to take dangerous criminals and suspected terrorists off of the streets, but are forbidden from doing so by "sanctuary city" policies imposed by local politicians. The Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act also addresses recent court decisions that may leave local police liable for errors by the Department of Homeland Security. Sen. Toomey's legislation preserves an individual's right to sue if a law enforcement officer commits any violations of the individual's civil or constitutional rights. The bill also provides that if the federal government committed an error or violated a right, the individual shall sue the federal government, not a local official acting in good faith and in compliance with a request from the Department of Homeland Security.

This week will mark one year since the tragic death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle. On July 1, 2015, Kate Steinle and her father were walking arm-in-arm down a San Francisco pier when a shooter gunned down Kate. The shooter should never have been on the pier that day. He was in the U.S. illegally, and had previously been convicted of seven felonies and deported five times. Three months prior to Kate's death, federal officials had requested San Francisco turn over the shooter, but the city refused and instead released him.

Leaders from across the political spectrum agree that sanctuary cities pose a serious threat. This spring, President Obama's Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, traveled to Philadelphia to ask Mayor Jim Kenney to add a small exception to the city's sanctuary city policy, so police may help the Obama administration find violent felons and suspected terrorists. Yet, Mayor Kenney refused. Ed Rendell, former Governor of Pennsylvania and lifelong Democrat, has also criticized Philadelphia's sanctuary city policy.

"It is past time to act. This Friday will mark one year since Kate Steinle was gunned down by a repeat felon who was in the country illegally, and she died in her father's arms," said Sen. Toomey. "I cannot imagine the pain that Kate's father must feel. Sadly, the Steinle family is not alone. The Obama administration has confirmed that sanctuary cities result in thousands of criminals being put back on the streets.

"Sanctuary city policies not only make it harder to stop illegal immigration and keep dangerous criminals off the streets, but they also undermine our anti-terrorism efforts. Sanctuary cities such as Philadelphia refuse to cooperate with the federal government in locating suspected terrorists who are in their custody and are in the country illegally. This refusal is simply inexcusable in light of the growing threat from violent Islamist extremism and recent terror attacks in San Bernardino, Orlando, and elsewhere.

"The safety of the people of Pennsylvania is too important. It is time for our leaders to put the safety of the American people first. We must stop dangerous sanctuary city policies."

The full text of the bill can be found here.

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