Sen. Jeff Stone fights sanctuary policies in wake of SF murder

The city of San Francisco under fire for its “Sanctuary” policy on immigration.

Last week Francisco Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant with a lengthy rap sheet shot and killed 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle while she was walking on a pier with her dad.

Sanchez had been deported to Mexico five times. After serving his most recent sentence, federal authorities turned him over to San Francisco in March on an outstanding warrant.

In April, the city released him without notifying federal authorities with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE says it should have been made aware of his release.

“ICE asked for a federal detention of this man when he was going to be released by San Francisco and San Francisco chose to turn a blind eye and let this dangerous criminal on the streets,” said State Senator Jeff Stone (R-Temecula).

Stone is fighting back on sanctuary policies by drafting a bill that would require giving ICE time to pick up undocumented, potentially dangerous felons before releasing them onto the streets.

“If a local city or county in the state of California wants to release a felonious, illegal immigrant they have to give federal authorities, namely ICE, 48 hours to come and apprehend the criminal,” Stone said.

Here in the valley, Coachella is a self-proclaimed sanctuary city. But those who live there say they want it to be a sanctuary for its citizens, not undocumented felons.

“I mean it is a concern. They should not be released they should just be in jail,” said Daizy, who lives in Coachella and is a new mother.

“It’s wrong, it’s wrong for them to let people out especially when they commit a crime,” said one Coachella business owner who didn’t want her identity revealed on camera.

Stone says no city should be above the law, especially if its policies put public safety at risk, adding that it’s essential to expand the line of communication between local and federal authorities on immigration.

“We all have to work together collectively,” Stone said.

“It could have been prevented, that lady would be alive right now if they would have just communicated or had some information going back and forth,” said the Coachella business owner.

The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department told News Channel 3 its deputies do not enforce federal immigration laws.

Proponents of sanctuary cities say the policies are aimed at increasing public safety by encouraging people in immigrant communities to work with authorities without the fear of deportation.