Gov. Matt Bevin called for the passage of legislation to ensure local law enforcement in Kentucky can effectively cooperate with federal agencies in combatting crime. He said some "sanctuary city" policies currently hinders that cooperation.
Bevin joined state lawmakers, members of the Lexington Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and Homeland Security officials in Lexington to call for the passage of that legislation.
The proposed legislation:
* Clarifies state law regarding “sanctuary” policies by providing a precise definition of what exactly a “sanctuary” policy is.
* Prohibits “sanctuary” policies in Kentucky and encourages federal-state-local law enforcement collaboration.
* Grants the Commonwealth the authority to enforce these provisions.
* Sen. Danny Carroll and Rep. John Blanton sponsor the legislation that prohibits local governments from enacting “sanctuary” policies that prevent local law enforcement from cooperating with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“Irresponsible and legally questionable ‘sanctuary’ policies handcuff our law enforcement personnel and pose a significant risk to public safety,” Bevin said. “Communication and collaboration among federal, state and local police is essential. We must never allow petty politics to jeopardize the safety of our law enforcement personnel or the tools they need to serve and protect our communities.”
Sen. Carroll, a former Paducah assistant police chief, and Rep. Blanton, a former Kentucky State Police (KSP) major, noted the urgency to address “sanctuary city” policies.
“Cooperation between federal, state and local law enforcement has never been more important than it is today,” said Sen. Carroll. “Permitting any unit of local government to mandate limited (or no) cooperation with federal immigration officials would hinder the effectiveness of local law enforcement and put our citizens at risk. This legislation is not intended as a statement on immigration policy, but rather a statement of support for law enforcement officers who have sworn to protect their communities.”
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