A recent vote in the U.S. Senate highlighted the problem of “sanctuary cities.” Senate Democrats were able to block a vote on a bill called the Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act. The 54-45 Senate vote fell short of the 60-vote threshold.

Senator David Vitter introduced the legislation, which also included a provision that has been called Kate’s Law. That is a reference to Kate Steinle who was shot by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez in San Francisco. He is an illegal immigrant who had seven prior felony convictions in this country and had been deported to Mexico five times. He was in San Francisco because it is a sanctuary city.

The bill would impose a mandatory minimum jail sentence for illegal immigrants who are convicted of re-entering the U.S. after being convicted of an aggravated felony. They would also face a similar sentence if they had three strikes for trying to enter this country illegally.

San Francisco is hardly the only sanctuary city. The Center for Immigration Studies has identified over 300 cities, counties, and states that are considered sanctuary locations.

City and state officials that allow or promote sanctuary cities believe it will keep the public safer. They argue that illegal aliens who are witnesses to or victims of crimes won’t report them for fear of deportation. Was San Francisco safer because of this policy? Try telling that to the family of Kate Steinle.

I think it is ironic (to say the least) that most of these cities receive federal funds but refuse to cooperate with the federal government when it comes to deporting illegal immigrants. I hope the Senate will consider this legislation again. In the meantime, your U.S. senators need to hear from you.