Sen. Grassley Introduces Bill to Block Funding for Sanctuary Cities

Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley has introduced legislation that would block funding for sanctuary cities.

Grassley, the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, announced the plans for the new measure Tuesday during an emotional hearing in which Jim Steinle, whose daughter Kathryn Steinle, 32, was allegedly killed by an illegal immigrant in San Francisco, a city that doesn't cooperate with federal authorities when it comes to enforcing immigration laws, testified, Politico is reporting.

"Our family realizes the complexities of immigration laws," Steinle said while testifying before the Senate committee. "However, we feel strongly that some legislation should be discussed, enacted or changed to take these undocumented immigrant felons off our streets for good."

Grassley's measure would give such sanctuary cities the option of either cooperating with federal immigration officials or lose out on grants from the Homeland Security Department and the Justice Department.

Grassley told the committee that the aim of the bill is to hold such cities, like San Francisco, "accountable."

The House is planning to introduce a similar measure this week.

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