State lawmaker from Philly wants sanctuary cities to pay for crimes by immigrants

A Republican state lawmaker from Philadelphia is planning to introduce a bill to hold “sanctuary cities” liable for legal damages.  

Philadelphia is one of many sanctuary cities where local police are barred, in most cases, from cooperating with federal immigration officials.

The idea is to make sure immigrants feel comfortable calling police if they need them.

State Rep. Martina White, R-Philadelphia, said her bill would make a sanctuary city liable for damages if someone in the country illegally commits a crime while living here.

“Basically we are trying to make sure that anyone who is an illegal alien does not flock to Pennsylvania’s  sanctuary city,” she said. “Right now, Philadelphia is declared such and we want to make sure people who are criminals don’t come here.”

White, who represents parts of Northeast Philly, said the bigger goal is to apply financial pressure to get the city to abandon sanctuary city status.

She is now trying to gather co-sponsors for her bill.