Trump-backed immigration bills pass House

The House passed two immigration measures Thursday, both strongly backed by President Donald Trump. “These were bills I campaigned on and that are vital to our public safety and national security,” Trump said. The House voted 257-167 to pass Kate’s Law, named after Kathryn Steinle who was killed in 2015 in San Francisco by an illegal immigrant who was previously deported back to Mexico several times. If the legislation is signed into law, previously convicted illegal immigrants who attempt to reenter the United States could face a 10-25 year prison sentence. The second bill, No Sanctuary for Criminals Act passed 228-195 and would punish sanctuary cities harboring illegal immigrants. The bill would deny federal grant funds to cities that neglect to turn over illegal migrants to immigration enforcement officials. Kate’s Law passed with 24 Democratic votes, but will be a harder sell in the Senate; a version of the legislation failed to pass in the upper chamber last year. Just three House Democrats supported the sanctuary city bill. House GOP leaders urged their Senate colleagues to schedule a vote on both measures as soon as possible.