Washington, DC - The sanctuary city murder of 32-year-old Kate Steinle has put a focus on the urgent need to ensure that illegal aliens who commit crimes are deported and don't come back.
"We must insist that local officials in municipalities such as San Francisco, New York and many other towns across the country, are forced to comply with our nation's immigration standards; there's no room for politically correct subterfuge that seeks to protect bad guys," according to Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens.
Kate Steinle was shot and killed while taking a walk on the waterfront with her father. As Kate was dying in her father's arms, she pleaded, "Dad, Help me." Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an illegal alien with a lengthy rap sheet who had been deported numerous times, was charged with the murder.
"When he reentered the country this time around, Sanchez made a beeline for San Francisco where he knew authorities would look the other way," Weber said. "And, they did. Sanchez had been picked up on an outstanding warrant for marijuana possession and when he was released, the police decided not to notify the immigration authorities. Now they are playing the blame game in the Bay City with Mayor Ed Lee blaming Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi and Mirkarimi blaming Lee. But the real blame should be on the complex mechanisms and machinations of the law and the blind-eye practices of politically correct sanctuary cities," Weber said.
The AMAC chief applauded the "Kate's Law" proposal that commentator Bill O'Reilly laid out for lawmakers on his Fox News program this week and it appears that Congress is listening. O'Reilly reports that he received word from Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell that he liked the idea enough to call a meeting to consider the suggested legislation.
Kate's Law would impose a mandatory minimum five-year sentence on any illegal alien that is deported and then comes back. "The word mandatory is crucial,' O'Reilly insisted. "There are laws on the books now that are being ignored. Congress must write Kate's Law so if officials do not enforce the mandatory sentence, they themselves can be prosecuted."
Weber said that his senior advocacy organization supports the law. "It's time we show concern for Americans who wish to live their lives in peace. Our sympathy and prayers are for the family of Kate Steinle. While we recognize the plight of individuals and families seeking opportunities in the U.S. who adhere to the rules, we need to demonstrate in a forceful manner that we will not tolerate aberrant behavior and we certainly will not sit by while criminals who've gotten into the country illegally get a free ride."
