ATTORNEY GENERAL/CRIME/JEFF SESSIONS/SANCTUARY CITIES: “Attty. Gen. Jeff Sessions moved Thursday [8-3-17] to again punish so-called sanctuary cities, threatening to deny federal crime-fighting resources to four cities beset by violence if they don’t step up efforts to help detain and deport people living in the country illegally, including two agencies in California, a state that has repeatedly frustrated the administration.
The Justice Department sent letters to cities struggling with gun violence, telling them they will be ineligible for a new program that aims to root out drug trafficking and gang crime unless they give federal immigration authorities access to jails and provide advance notice before releasing someone in custody who is wanted on immigration violations. The cities — Baltimore, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and Stockton and San Bernardino in California — all expressed interest in the Justice Department’s new Public Safety Partnership, which enlists federal agents, analysts and technology to help communities find solutions to crime…
In the letters, the department asked the four prospective cities’ police departments to show proof of their compliance by Aug. 18. The Department of Justice initially planned to involve 12 cities in the program, but may name additional sites later this year, according to a statement.”
-James Queally, “Attorney general threatens to punish Stockton, San Bernardino and other ‘sanctuary cities’,” The Los Angeles Times online, Aug. 3, 2017 10:15am