This should make for a fun debate in Congress, and should be fast-tracked to the floor so we can have that debate, which would make Democrats, and a few squishy Republicans, look really, really bad
(Fox News) A Republican congressman plans to introduce a bill Monday that would threaten huge fines and prison time for elected officials accused of sheltering illegal immigrant criminals from deportation, in the wake of the not-guilty verdict in the Kate Steinle murder trial.
Indiana Rep. Todd Rokita’s bill is one of the most aggressive pieces of legislation to date aimed at sanctuary city policies, going beyond the Justice Department’s threat to cut off grants to those jurisdictions.
“Politicians don’t get to pick and choose what laws to comply with,†Rokita told Fox News. “Americans are dying because politicians sworn to uphold the law refuse to do so.â€
His “Stopping Lawless Actions of Politicians (SLAP) Act†would hold state and local lawmakers criminally responsible for refusing to comply with federal immigration enforcement efforts. The Republican’s bill would subject violators to a $1 million fine and up to five years in prison if they are convicted.
It’s a very interesting proposition, holding politicians liable. However, here’s the thing: first, we would need to see the actual language of the bill to see exactly who is held liable. Because it would need to include all elected officials, including mayors, governors, and sheriff’s, as well as police department leaders, who are typically not elected, but appointed, and appointed officials. Second, it needs to apply to federal government employees, not just state and local.
Third, it may not be Constitutional to apply this law and have harsher penalties for certain people than is already on the books. You may hold elected officials to higher standards (sure doesn’t seem like that happens anymore, eh?), but, we still have Equal Justice embedded into our Constitution. Finally, we do no apply said existing law in the first place: when was the last time anyone was charged, much less prosecuted using that law? Depending on the situation, anyone convicted of harboring/sheltering an illegal alien could receive a jail term starting at up to 5 years. As for fines, the law refers you to Title 18, which, under Chapter 227, Subchapter C- Fines, if the offense is considered a felony, a fine not more than $250,000 for individuals, $500,000 for organizations. There can also be fines linked to financial gain (say, would fundraising off of supporting illegal immigration be considered financial gain?)
While the law is well intentioned, it’s best applied to create one of those National Conversations Democrats love. Let’s simply apply the existing law.
Crossed at Right Wing News.
