Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA) released a statement on Friday, arguing that “Everyone’s family is put at risk” by sanctuary cities, and that this sanctuary city caused the untimely death of Kate Steinle.
Rep. Barletta declared in a statement:
I am heartbroken for the Steinle family. Garcia Zarate is an illegal immigrant felon, who was deported on five separate occasion. This tragedy should never had happened. Elected officials in Sanctuary Cities, and those that defend them in Congress, allowed for the death of Kate Steinle. There should be no sanctuary for illegal activity in the United States, yet these officials continue to operate with complete disregard for public safety and the law. They encourage crime to flood into their communities as gangs, drug dealers, and violent criminals find sanctuary policies a safe harbor from the law. They put strain on the police and their lives in danger. Everyone’s family is put at risk.
The Pennsylvania congressman added,
The Congress must move to prevent further deterioration of public safety and pass HR 83, Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act. All Americans are at risk from sanctuary cities. Congress must speak forcefully to the victims of these horrendous policies that the continued injustice of sanctuary cities will not go unanswered.
A jury found five-time deportee and seven-time felon illegal alien Jose Garcia Zarate, also known as Juan Francisco López-Sánchez, not guilty Thursday evening in the case of the 2015 murder of Kate Steinle.
Kate’s Law and the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act continue to languish in the Senate; both bills passed through the House of Representatives in June. Kate’s Law increases penalties for illegal immigrants who repeatedly re-enter the country illegally, while the No Sanctuary for Criminals Act restricts grant money to cities that prevent their police from turning over dangerous criminals to federal authorities.
Rep. Barletta was one of the first congressmen to endorse Donald Trump in the primaries, cheering Trump for his strong stance on illegal immigration. As mayor of Hazelton, Pennsylvania, Barletta cracked down on illegal immigration and businesses that hired illegal immigrants and instituted penalties for landlords that house illegals.
Barletta announced in August that he will challenge Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) in Pennsylvania’s 2018 U.S. Senate race, running on a hardline stance against illegal immigration.
Barletta told Breitbart News that if elected, he will fight for President Donald Trump’s agenda, putting “America First” and “Pennsylvania workers first.”