Justice Department promises crackdown on sanctuary cities

By Stephen Dinan - The Washington Times - Wednesday, February 24, 2016

The federal Bureau of Prisons will now try to deport illegal immigrants rather than turn them over to sanctuary cities, Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Wednesday in a bid to solve the situation that may have led to the death of Kathryn Steinle last summer.

Ms. Lynch also said she’ll begin an audit of sanctuary cities to see if they’re violating federal law, and those that are found to be actively stymying immigration agents’ work could lose grant funding.

The attorney general was responding to requests from Rep. John Culberson, a Texas Republican and chairman of the spending subcommittee that oversees the Justice Department.

“This is a very significant change, and we’re deeply grateful,” Mr. Culberson said.

He said his staff would provide a list to Ms. Lynch of cities and counties that try to thwart deportations, and he hopes the Justice Department will follow up on that list.

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