Bay Ridge

Donovan votes against bill Dems call ‘Donald Trump Act’

August 3, 2015 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle
U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan says he voted against the bill because it seeks to cut off funding to police. Eagle file photo by Paula Katinas
Share this:

A bill that would cut federal funding to cities that don’t crack down on undocumented immigrants committing crimes was approved by the House of Representatives by a wide margin, 241-179, but it passed without the support of freshman U.S. Rep. Dan Donovan, who voted against the measure.

Donovan (R-C-Southwest Brooklyn-Staten Island) broke ranks with his fellow Republicans and voted no on the controversial bill.

Democrats had derisively dubbed the legislation the “Donald Trump Act” after the billionaire businessman-turned presidential candidate who stated in the speech announcing his run on July 14 that some Mexican immigrants entering the U.S. illegally are bringing drugs and crime and that some were rapists.

The bill, which was passed by the House on July 23, is a move against so-called sanctuary cities, places where police and public officials do not investigate the immigration status of suspects under arrest.

Subscribe to our newsletters

The legislation seeks to cut millions of dollars in federal funds to municipalities that fail to notify the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service of immigrants in custody for allegedly committing crimes who are also suspected of being in the country illegally.

Donovan, the former Staten Island district attorney, said that while he strongly disagrees with the concept of sanctuary cities, he believes cutting funding to cities would do great hard.

Donovan issued a joint statement with U.S. Rep. Peter King (R-C-Long Island), who also voted against the legislation.

“Sanctuary city policies are simply wrong and they undermine the rule of law. Sadly, today’s legislation only makes a bad situation worse by cutting off funds to the police officers who put their lives at risk to protect all of us. This legislation is fatally misguided, putting police officers and our constituents, including victims of domestic violence, at risk for the failed policies of City Hall. That is why we voted no,” Donovan and King said in their joint statement, which was issued on July 23, the day the bill passed.

The concept of sanctuary cities came under fire in early July following the death of Kathryn Steinle, 32, who was shot to death in San Francisco, a sanctuary city. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, 56, the suspect arrested and charged with her murder, has a history of felony arrests and has been deported to Mexico several times, the New York Times reported.


Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment