SandyMaloneWashington, DC – A Republican congressman announced legislation Monday that would impose huge fines and jail time on public officials who ignore federal immigration laws.
Rep. Todd Rokita (R-Ind.) unveiled the Stopping Lawless Actions of Politicians (SLAP) Act on Monday, which targets sanctuary cities, which shelter undocumented immigrants or don’t cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Indianapolis Star reported.
“Americans are dying because politicians sworn to uphold the law refuse to do so,” Rokita said.
Under Rokita’s SLAP Act, violators could face up to five years of prison time, and a fine of up to $1 million.
The timing of the legislation couldn’t be better for advocates of stronger immigration control in the wake of the controversial acquittal of Kate Steinle’s killer on Nov. 30.
A San Francisco jury found a five-time-deported illegal alien, who admitted firing the shot that killed Steinle, not guilty for her death.
Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, Steinle’s killer, had been in jail for a marijuana charge just months before he shot her.
Garcia Zarate was in federal custody when San Francisco asked to take custody of him on an outstanding warrant. The city then released him without notifying ICE.
After he was released, he killed Steinle.
Attorney General Jeff Sessions took direct aim at the city, saying San Francisco’s “decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle,” FOX News reported.
Steinle’s death led to the introduction of legislation for Kate’s Law, which would have boosted penalties for deported criminals who reenter the United States illegally. The bill passed the House in 2016, but died in the Senate.
“The American people are rightfully infuriated watching politicians put their open-borders ideology before the rule of law, and the safety of the people they represent,” Rokita said in a statement. “Politicians don’t get to pick and choose what laws to comply with.”
“It’s time the federal government gets serious about enforcing immigration laws and holding politicians accountable who conspire to break them,” he said.
There were strong reactions to Rokita’s proposed SLAP Act on social media.