The U.S. House of Representatives took the first steps toward fulfilling two of President Donald Trump's signature campaign promises Thursday, passing bills strengthening penalties on undocumented immigrants who return to the U.S. after being deported and cutting federal funds to sanctuary cities.
By a 257-167 vote, the House passed “Kate's Law,” a bill named after Kate Steinle, 32, who was shot and killed in San Francisco in July 2015. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, a felon who had been deported five times, is facing murder and other charges in connection with the shooting.
The House bill increases prison penalties for undocumented immigrants who return to the U.S. after being deported.
The House also passed, by a 228-195 vote, the “No Sanctuary for Criminals Act,” blocking so-called sanctuary cities from receiving federal grant money and expanding the federal government's capabilities to make them comply with immigration enforcement.
House Democrats said the bills were part of an anti-immigrant push by the Trump administration.
Democrats also pushed back on the characterization of sanctuary cities as gathering places for criminals.
In a statement issued after the vote, Trump urged “the Senate to take up these bills, pass them, and send them to my desk. I am calling on all lawmakers to vote for these bills and to save American lives.”
Earlier versions of the bills failed to pass in the Senate.