Ives cites Steinle case in criticizing Rauner for signing sanctuary state bill

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), who has filed to run for governor in the GOP primary, recently criticized Gov. Bruce Rauner and sanctuary city legislation in a statement spurred by the verdict in the Kate Steinle murder trial.

“My heart breaks for Kate Steinle’s family,” Ives said in her statement. “They have suffered an unimaginable loss and now have been denied justice for the man who shot and killed her. If San Francisco’s immigration laws had been enforced, Kate would be alive today.”

Steinle died after being shot by an illegal immigrant who had been removed from the U.S. five times. The man who fired the gun was tried and acquitted, with the defense that he found the gun and that it’s discharge was an accident.

Ives characterized the Steinle case as a result of sanctuary city principles, and accused Rauner of ignoring similar crimes in Illinois when he signed such legislation earlier this year.

“The executive office is charged with the enforcement of our laws,” Ives said in her statement. “Unfortunately, we have a weak man in the role of chief law enforcer. Bruce Rauner did not have to make Illinois a sanctuary state, but he did. And in doing so, he betrayed all families he was elected to protect.”