PA Republicans vote to protect Pennsylvanians from the effects of illegal immigration, some Democrats say it won’t do anything to improve public safety.
While encounters on the U.S.-Mexico border continue at record levels, Republican senators in Harrisburg passed legislation requiring state and local law enforcement in the Keystone State to contact Immigration and Customs Enforcement if a criminal defendant is “reasonably” believed to not be an American citizen. The bill was inspired by the tragic murder of Georgia college student Laken Riley, whose murderer was an illegal immigrant previously arrested and released before immigration officials were notified. The legislation, which may lead to more deportations of illegal immigrants in Pennsylvania, stems from what one co-sponsor of the bill calls a “nationwide issue”, citing Riley’s murder.
The passage of the legislation comes less than a month after State Representative Mike Cabell introduced a bill criminalizing entry into Pennsylvania by a non-citizen through “any location other than a lawful port of entry.” Less than three weeks after Cabell’s bill was introduced, a Guatemalan national was indicted in federal court for illegally reentering the United States and using fraudulent documents after being detained in Clinton County, Pennsylvania.
Similar legislation was introduced earlier in the session that would also notify federal immigration officials if an illegal immigrant attempts to purchase a firearm.
Shortly after a bill banning local governments from declaring themselves “sanctuary cities”, the city of Lancaster declared themselves a “welcoming city”. The city’s move then prompted Lancaster County to pass a resolution saying the county is a “non-sanctuary” locale.
Some GOP lawmakers say more can be done outside of Pennsylvania to protect Pennsylvanians. State Senators are leading the charge to convince Democrat Governor Josh Shapiro to send the Pennsylvania National Guard to Texas. The guardsmen would assist the Lone Star State in securing the southern border. Mastriano says the resolution calling for the deployment should be “a bipartisan priority” to prevent “human trafficking, crime and fentanyl” from affecting Pennsylvanians.
Among the flurry of legislative activity to protect Pennsylvania from the porous southern border and the flood of drugs that results, some Democrats are reluctant to support the measures. One Democrat state senator argues that alerting federal immigration officials of the detention of an illegal immigrant for violent crime will have “no impact on community safety.”
