Trump Confidant Presses for Tough Kansas Immigration Action
Immigration is not a big problem in Kansas, but wingnut zealotry is a big problem.
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach , a confidant of President Donald Trump on immigration, is asking the state Legislature to pass two measures aimed at fighting illegal immigration by barring “sanctuary cities” and allowing state troopers to enforce immigration laws.
Republican state Rep. John Whitmer, of Wichita, introduced the two proposals in a House committee Thursday at Kobach’s request. Republican Sen. Caryn Tyson, of Parker, introduced identical versions in a Senate committee.
One measure would bar cities and counties from adopting sanctuary policies protecting immigrants in the country illegally and would require their cooperation with federal immigration and customs authorities. A similar bill got a hearing in a House committee last year but did not make it to that chamber’s floor.
The other bill would require the Kansas Highway Patrol to partner with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on the “enforcement of federal immigration laws, detentions and removals, and related investigations.”
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