The Pier 14 Shooting: San Francisco’s Sanctuary City Policy in the Spotlight
KQED’s California Report considers the divergent opinions about San Francisco’s policy toward undocumented immigrants and its status as a so-called “Sanctuary City.” The latest controversy started after Francisco Sanchez — an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who was released from the county jail in April — was arrested and charged with murdering 32-year-old Kate Steinle. She was shot and killed with a gun as she walked along a waterfront pier with her father. Sanchez had been repeatedly deported and re-entered the U.S. illegally. The tragedy set off a firestorm with presidential candidate Donald Trump fueling the flames; then the mayor, sheriff, the federal government and police all started pointing fingers at each other. So much of this debate — it’s become part of the presidential campaign now — focuses on why this undocumented immigrant was released in San Francisco by the sheriff — without notifying federal immigration authorities. Host Scott Shafer speaks about sanctuary cities and the complexities of immigration law with Kevin Johnson, Dean of UC Davis Law School.
KJ