Republicans in Congress are looking to crack down on federal departments that turn a blind eye to so-called sanctuary cities in the wake of national outrage following the killing of Kate Steinle by an illegal immigrant who had been deported five times.

Sanctuary cities make it local policy to ignore federal law requiring the detention and reporting of illegal immigrants by local officials.

“We need to use the authority Congress already has and enforce the laws already on the books regarding immigration,” Rep. John Culberson of Texas said Thursday on The Laura Ingraham Show Thursday.

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“We need to use the authority Congress already has and enforce the laws already on the books regarding immigration,” Rep. John Culberson of Texas said Thursday on The Laura Ingraham Show.

On Tuesday, Culberson and other Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee filed an amendment to a spending bill for the Department of Homeland Security. The measure would prevent sanctuary cities from receiving federal preparedness grants from the department unless the agency enforced immigration laws in those cities.

Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey blasted President Barack Obama for his administration’s response to the homicide in San Francisco and also called for the elimination of sanctuary cities Thursday on The Laura Ingraham Show.

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Christie said it was “disgraceful” that no one from the administration has expressed condolences to the family of the murdered tourist. “She was killed because of a failing,” he said, referring to the fact that the alleged killer had been deported multiple times.

“There shouldn’t be sanctuary cities across this country tolerating these illegal immigrants,” Christie said.

Culberson has also filed an another amendment that would require the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency to detain illegal aliens who have been convicted of a crime, thereby preventing their possible release.

“Dangerous criminals who are in the United States illegally must now be incarcerated until they are deported to their home country,” Culberson told Ingraham.

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“Dangerous criminals who are in the United States illegally must now be incarcerated until they are deported to their home country,” Culberson told Ingraham.

Culberson accused the Obama administration of releasing an average of 1,000 illegal immigrants with criminal records each day.

Culberson has filed amendments as far back as 2006 to block federal funds to so-called “sanctuary cities,” and in 2012 specifically cited San Francisco as a prime target of his efforts.

“Homeland Security must hold illegal immigrant felons in custody until they are deported, Culberson said, “if you want federal money, follow federal law!”

J. Taylor Rushing of LifeZette contributed to this report.

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