The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
– Deportation planned –
The divisive case reignited debate over cooperation between federal immigration authorities and police in state and local jurisdictions where the priority is crime prevention, not deportation.
The case prompted many US lawmakers to argue in favor of imposing restrictions on access to federal funds for places such as San Francisco that are known as “sanctuary cities.”
Such cities protect undocumented immigrants from deportation by refusing to assist or cooperate with federal immigration officials.
After the verdict, Attorney General Jeff Sessions — who maintains an ultra-conservative agenda on immigration — skewered San Francisco’s sanctuary city status, saying its “decision to protect criminal aliens led to the preventable and heartbreaking death of Kate Steinle.”
The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency also said the California city’s “policy of refusing to honor ICE detainers is a blatant threat to public safety and undermines the rule of law.”
“Following the conclusion of this case, ICE will work to take custody of Mr Garcia Zarate and ultimately remove him from the country,” the agency’s deputy director Tom Homan said in the statement.
– ‘Move on with our lives’ –
In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle prior to the verdict’s release, Steinle’s family emphasized that they wanted simply to move out of the spotlight.
“We just want to get this over with and move on with our lives, and think about Kate on our terms. Nothing’s been on our terms. It’s been on everyone else’s terms,” said her father Jim Steinle.
“Even if this guy gets 100 years in prison, it doesn’t solve anything; it doesn’t help anything,” he said.
But after the verdict’s rendering, he told the paper his family was “saddened and shocked” after learning Garcia was convicted only on firearms possession charges.
“Justice was rendered, but it was not served,” he said.
Public Defender Jeff Adachi said Garcia was “extremely relieved.”
“He knew what was at stake — his life was at stake,” Adachi said of his office’s client.
“I think he feels tremendous sympathy for Kate Steinle and her family — we do as well — but unfortunately these types of horrible tragic accidents happen every day.”
