Burns votes to rid Pennsylvania of sanctuary cities
Supports bill that aims to remove safe havens for unauthorized alien criminals
Rep. Frank Burns October 18, 2016 | 1:51 PM
HARRISBURG, Oct. 18 – Hoping to make it undesirable for some municipalities to turn a blind eye to unauthorized alien criminals, state Rep. Frank Burns, D-Cambria, voted Monday for a bill that would withhold state funding and allow primarily cities to be sued if they continue the practice.
Burns supported H.B. 1885, which passed the House 136-55 and had a Republican prime sponsor, because he believes it’s morally wrong to fail to detain and turn over such people to federal deportation authorities.
“We are a society that’s built on having law and order, so it makes zero sense to purposely allow an entire group of people to slip through the cracks,” Burns said. “The safety and security of our citizens and law enforcement officers should not be compromised by self-perceived ‘do-gooders’ who are in actuality putting everyone at risk.”
The bill supported by Burns would hold sanctuary municipalities liable for damages to people or property as a result of criminal activity by unauthorized aliens if:
- It has been determined by federal immigration officials that the person who engaged in the criminal activity is an unauthorized alien;
- The unauthorized alien is a resident of the sanctuary municipality;
- The unauthorized alien is convicted of the crime; and
- The criminal activity is a proximate cause of the injury.
The bill also would prohibit restrictions that keep an official or employee of the municipality from:
- Sending to or receiving from federal immigration officials any information regarding the citizenship or immigration status of an individual;
- Exchanging information, with regard to an individual, with other federal agencies, state agencies or municipalities;
- Inquiring about an individual’s name, date and place of birth and immigration status while enforcing/conducting an investigation into the violation of a law; or
- Requesting an applicant for state or local public benefits to provide proof of eligibility.
Burns said he hopes the governor signs the legislation if it reaches his desk.