State Politics

Mississippi Senate passes bill banning sanctuary cities

By Regina Zilbermints

rzilbermints@sunherald.com

February 09, 2017 02:39 PM

Mississippi House members recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the first day of the current legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, in chambers at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss.
Mississippi House members recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the first day of the current legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, in chambers at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Rogelio V. Solis AP
Mississippi House members recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the first day of the current legislative session, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, in chambers at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. Rogelio V. Solis AP

The Mississippi Senate passed a bill Thursday banning sanctuary cities, counties or colleges in Mississippi.

SB 2710 passed by a vote of 32-16, according to AP reporter Jeff Amy.

Sen. Debbie Dawkins, a Democrat representing a portion of Harrison County, was the only person who spoke in opposition.

Although policies vary amng municipalities, sanctuary cities are generally municipalities that don’t cooperate with federal immigration authorities, either by asking about a person’s immigration status or by holding a person for federal authorities for longer than the sentence of whatever crime they committed. The policy has come under fire in recent weeks as Donald Trump has threatened to crack down by denying funding to sanctuary cities, and mayors have responded.

Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves posted a Tweet supporting the ban shortly after the vote.

There is still a chance for a redo. Near the end of the day, Dawkins held the bill on a motion to reconsider. That motion must be tabled tomorrow or the bill dies.

White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer talks about the administrations stance on sanctuary cities during Wednesdays briefing.

By

Regina Zilbermints: 228-896-2340, @RZilbermints

  Comments