Kander recently voiced support for elements of President Obama’s executive amnesty program and has been a vocal opponent of immigration enforcement measures in the past:
Kander Backed The Policies Implemented By President Obama’s Executive Amnesty Measure Shielding 4 Million Illegal Immigrants From Deportation “Kander said he agreed with some of the proposed immigration changes, but he objected to using the executive-order route when it appeared Congress is deadlocked on the matter. Kander noted that Obama’s executive order has touched off a legal fight, which he says hurts everyone, including business.” (St. Louis Public Radio, June 11, 2015)
Kander Criticized A Congressional Republican Immigration Reform Plan As “Right-Wing Wall Building.” “In his letter to the editor of the Kansas City Star, Washington Republican Sam Graves takes credit for Congress doing something about immigration…Democrats understand trust has to be earned every day, which is why they fought for common-sense immigration reform and against right-wing wall building.” (Heartland Democrats of America Blog, August 21, 2006)
Does Kander support sending a message to both sanctuary cities and criminals by limiting federal funding to local governments who refuse to comply with federal law and increasing criminal penalties on repeat offenders? Or will he stand with his party leaders in Washington who insist on doing nothing to address this ongoing public safety issue?
BACKGROUND
The Legislation Is In Part A Response To The Murder Of Katherine Steinle, A San Francisco Woman Who Was Shot And Killed By An Illegal Immigrant Who Had Been Deported Five Times: “Her accused killer had been deported five times, which has ignited debate over so-called ‘sanctuary cities,’ where undocumented immigrants are not turned over to federal authorities. The repeat felon charged with Steinle’s murder, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, has become a notorious symbol of San Francisco’s policy… San Francisco’s sanctuary ordinance largely prohibits city personnel from helping enforce immigration laws. ‘It was never contemplated that our sanctuary city would give protection to serious repeat felony offenders,’ Mayor Ed Lee says. San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi insists he had no choice but to free Sanchez without alerting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.” (John Blackstone, “San Francisco Murder Prompts Reviews Of ‘Sanctuary Cities,’ CBS News, 7/9/15)