Union Leader: Sen. Ayotte Renews Call to Strengthen Border Security

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U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-NH, has sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson requesting a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting of an innocent woman in San Francisco last week and the alleged shooter, Francisco Sanchez, and his presence in the United States. Sanchez has been arrested and charged with murder.

Sanchez, 45, an undocumented immigrant with a long criminal history, had given two jailhouse interviews prior to the appointment of an attorney to his case. Sanchez told a local news station that he found the gun and it accidentally discharged. Sanchez has also stated that he sought refuge in San Francisco because it is well-known as a "sanctuary" city, meaning local law enforcement authorities do not voluntarily collaborate or cooperate with their federal counterparts on matters related to our nation's immigration laws. A local ordinance only allows law enforcement to hold individuals with violent criminal records.

Sanchez was detained shortly after allegedly shooting Kathryn Steinle, 32, at Pier 14 last Wednesday. Police said Steinle, who had recently moved to San Francisco, suffered a single gunshot wound to her torso and that the shooting appeared to be completely random.

Department of Homeland Security records indicate Sanchez had been previously deported five times, most recently in 2009, according to ICE spokesperson Virgina Kice. His criminal history includes seven prior felony convictions, four involving narcotics charges.

"This tragedy reinforces the importance of simultaneously pursuing strict enforcement of our current immigration laws while continuing to further secure our Southern border," Ayotte wrote in her letter. "Such efforts include doubling the number of border patrol agents on the Southern border, doubling the amount of fencing along the border, and continuously improving and deploying border surveillance and security technology. To further these goals, we must understand cases such as this one. We must answer hard questions so that we can remedy dangerous deficiencies and oversights in our current enforcement regime."

"Certainly, authorities in San Francisco and other localities in which Sanchez came into contact with local law enforcement must take a hard look at their policies following this tragic incident."

"At the same time, DHS and ICE must reflect on their actions and revisit existing, or needed, authorities to remove criminal aliens. In addition to responses to the questions outlined below, I respectfully ask that you conduct a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding Sanchez's history of deportations and his presence in the United States on July 1, 2015."

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