Legislation to prevent sanctuary cities for undocumented immigrants passed a Senate committee on Thursday, but not before spirited debate.
In addition to banning local governments and other agencies from adopting procedures that would hinder federal immigration laws, it also would “require law enforcement officials, representatives, agents, and employees of law enforcement agencies, public officials, representatives, agents, and employees of public agencies to use their best efforts, considering available resources, to support the enforcement of federal immigration law.”
The sponsor of the measure is Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Paducah, a retired police officer.
“This is not a statement on immigration policy in this country, this is a law enforcement issue,” he told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “It is designed to ensure continued cooperation between federal, state and local officers, and officials and agencies, in the enforcement of federal immigration laws. We do this in an attempt to keep our people safe.”
He noted there were some exemptions to requirements of the bill. “Domestic violence shelters, children advocacy shelters, rape crisis centers, public advocacy offices, health departments and also school districts. This includes school resource officers.”
Rep. John Blanton, R-Salyersville, a retired Kentucky State Police major, also testified on behalf of the bill.
“This should not scare any family or any individual because this changes nothing from the way business is done today,” he said. “It actually provides protections that currently aren’t in law. Currently, there is no protection for domestic violence shelters from releasing information.”
Blanton added the same holds true for the other agencies who will be exempt under the bill.
However, opponents painted a different picture.
Mirna Lozano of the Kentucky Dream Coalition, who lives in Springfield, told the panel she is a “Dreamer,” coming to the United States as the child of undocumented parents, and has other undocumented family members. She described their fears when they are victims of a crime.
“Just last week, my grandpa’s house was robbed,” she testified. “Because of his immigration status, he was afraid to call the police. He still hasn’t reported the crime.”
Ron Russell, an immigration attorney, also said he opposed the measure’s requirements on local law enforcement agencies. “The officers are not trained in to enforce immigration laws, which legal scholars have determined is the second-most complicated area of U.S. law. How is an untrained law enforcement officer able to, enforce immigration law without significant education and training?”
When the vote was taken, Sen. Robin Webb, D-Grayson, said she was “passing” because she had concerns over a conflict between her job as a public official and her work as a criminal defense attorney.
The measure cleared the committee and now heads to the Senate floor.
(Photo: Sen. Danny Carroll, courtesy of Kentucky Today)
By Tom Latek, Kentucky Today
