By Phil Riske | Managing Editor
Senate Democrats Tuesday blocked legislation to withhold certain federal funds from cities that shield residents from federal immigration officials.
Advocacy groups for immigrants urged members to reject the bill. But NumbersUSA, a group that wants to limit the number of immigrants in the country, said it would make sure voters knew which senators supported the bill, Los Angeles Times reported
A disputed list of sanctuary cities included Phoenix, Chandler, Mesa, Tucson and South Tucson. See: ‘Sanctuary cities’ site irks some officials in Arizona
The House passed its version of the bill in July.
The White House has threatened that President Obama would veto either bill.
Cities may still have a policy they don’t inquire about a victim’s citizenship without being considered a sanctuary city.
“We have pretty good relationships with Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa and Chandler. We have pretty good relationships with Phoenix, Tucson, Mesa and Chandler,” Yasmeen Pitts O’Keefe, a spokeswoman with ICE in Phoenix, told local media, “Arizona is not a problem with detainers.”
She said none of the four Arizona cities are considered uncooperative with federal immigration authorities who seek to detain people identified as being in the country illegally.
