Kenney takes on Toomey over sanctuary city claim

    Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney is taking on U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey and saying the Republican’s criticism of his city’s sanctuary  status is fearmongering pulled from Donald Trump’s anti-immigrant playbook.

    Kenney’s shot at Toomey on Tuesday comes a day before the U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote on a Toomey bill that would withhold certain federal grants from sanctuary cities.

    Toomey, who is using Philadelphia’s sanctuary city status as a wedge issue against Democratic challenger Katie McGinty in his bid for second term, said policies like Philadelphia’s make it harder to stop terrorism.

    But Kenney, a Democrat, said Toomey’s claims about Philadelphia are inaccurate.

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    Philadelphia cooperates with the federal government in cases where terrorism is suspected, federal charges are filed or serious felonies are committed, Kenney said.

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