Rep. Rokita wants to imprison sanctuary city officials who help undocumented immigrants

Indiana Congressman Todd Rokita introduced a bill Friday that could imprison and fine public officials $1 million if they obstruct federal immigration authority efforts.

The legislation targets sanctuary cities, which shelter undocumented immigrants or don't cooperate with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement. 

Under Rokita's Stopping Lawless Actions of Politicians (SLAP) Act, violators could face up to five years of prison time and a fine of up to $1 million for ignoring the federal government's requests for custody of undocumented individuals. 

More:Poll: GOP challengers to Donnelly not well known despite being congressmen

More:Hogsett stops short of declaring Indy a sanctuary city

More:Roy Moore touted backing of this Indiana group. Its leader has white nationalist ties.

“The American people are rightfully infuriated watching politicians put their open-borders ideology before the rule of law, and the safety of the people they represent," Rokita said in a statement. "Politicians don't get to pick and choose what laws to comply with."

Rokita is in a heated six-person Republican primary race for Democrat Joe Donnelly's U.S. Senate seat. Donnelly is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats in the upcoming 2018 election.

Rokita has tried to edge out his competitors by promoting himself as more in line with President Donald Trump's agenda.

Sanctuary cities are one of Trump's targets. Last month, a federal judge permanently blocked Trump's executive order that would have cut funding from cities that don't cooperate with ICE. 

Trump and other Republicans point to the death of Kate Steinle in San Francisco as a reason to crack down on sanctuary cities. Garcia Zarate, an undocumented immigrant who was accused of killing Steinle, had been in jail for a marijuana charge just months before Steinle's death. San Francisco officials did not notify ICE, which was seeking to deport him, and later released him. 

Her death led to Kate's Law, which would have increased penalties for deported criminals who reenter the United States illegally. The bill passed the House in 2016, with the support of Rokita, but died in the Senate.

Trump questioned the jury's not-guilty verdict for Zarate, who had been deported five times.

Rokita, who supports funding for a border wall, referenced Steinle's death when announcing his legislation. 

"Americans are dying because politicians sworn to uphold the law refuse to do so,” Rokita said. “It’s time the federal government gets serious about enforcing immigration laws and holding politicians accountable who conspire to break them." 

Jane Heneger, the executive director of Indiana ACLU, sees the bill has an attempt to "bully" local communities into immigration enforcement. 

"Even if these laws aren’t passed, just proposing them sends a signal to immigrant neighbors that they need to be fearful, that they should not cooperate with local police and we aren’t a welcoming country and community," Heneger said.

She also said the law could lead to more instances of the unconstitutional detainment of undocumented immigrants for simple traffic violations.

More:Federal judge prohibits ICE detainers in Marion County

Indiana Code has outlawed sanctuary cities since 2011. 

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett stopped short of calling Indy a sanctuary city during a rally in February, instead saying the city will work towards a resolution stating the city won't comply with any law a court has determined to be discriminatory or unconstitutional.

Call IndyStar reporter Kaitlin Lange at (317) 432-9270. Follow her on Twitter: @kaitlin_lange.