Migrant murder acquittal ignites political firestorm

[Wilsonandson]

BY NICOLE RODRIGUEZ ON 12/1/17 AT 2:15 PM

U.S.
KATE STEINLE
IMMIGRATION

The acquittal of an undocumented immigrant accused of murdering American Kate Steinle on a San Francisco pier in 2015 has reignited a national firestorm over immigration and renewed Republican vows to crack down on people coming into the country illegally.

In the aftermath of the GOP candidate’s loss in the Virginia gubernatorial election last month, Republicans wondered aloud whether pursuing immigration in an aggressive manner was the right way to go. Ed Gillespie, who lost the Virginia race to Democrat Ralph Northam, ran paid advertisements about the threat of violence from the Latino gang MS-13, promised to preserve the state’s Confederate monuments and vowed to ban sanctuary cities.

After his loss, many operatives pushed for a more compassionate approach, and a leading moderate senator, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, urged the party to come up with a deal to save the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.

In light of the Steinle verdict, though, President Donald Trump signaled to GOP members that they should double down on pursuing stringent immigration laws.

Immigrant Murder Acquittal Ignites Political Firestorm

[Wilsonandson]

Build that wall!