By Juliet Williams
Associated Press
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Republican lawmakers want to block immigrants in the country illegally from being returned to a city if local California officials won’t pursue a felony conviction.
GOP members announced SB57 on Wednesday in response to the killing of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle on a San Francisco pier in July. The man charged in her killing is a Mexican national who was deported five times and was wanted for a sixth removal when he was released from San Francisco’s jail.
Local prosecutors opted not to pursue a 20-year-old marijuana possession charge.
The proposal by Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff of San Dimas and Sen. Sharon Runner of Lancaster would require local police to confirm that prosecutors will pursue a felony conviction before accepting an inmate.
If not, suspects would likely be deported.