Legislation To Ban Sanctuary Policies Introduced After Kansas County Passes Sanctuary Ordinance
David Jaroslav
State & Local Legislative Manager
FAIR Take | March 2022
The commissioners of the Unified Government (UG) of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kansas adopted an expansive sanctuary ordinance by a vote of 6-4 on February 10. In response, the state’s attorney general (AG) called on the state legislature to ban policies like this one. On February 22, House Bill (HB) 2217 banning sanctuary policies was introduced.
Before Wyandotte County and Kansas City adopted their sanctuary ordinance, there were several sanctuary jurisdictions in Kansas. In 2018, FAIR identified Butler County, Shawnee County and the city of Wichita as sanctuary jurisdictions because they did not honor detainers . FAIR has since added the cities of Lawrence and Roeland Park. However, the new sanctuary policy adopted by Wyandotte County is much broader than the previous sanctuary policies.
County Commissioner Mike Kane, who voted against the ordinance, said it was “unfair” for Mayor Tyrone Garner “to spring the vote on commissioners and the public,” adding that something this important should instead have been put on the ballot for the county’s voters to decide.
Other ordinance opponents argued it was unfair and discriminatory, would increase human trafficking, and would generally make the community less safe.
https://www.fairus.org/legislation/state-and-local-legislation/sanctuary-policies/legislation-ban-sanctuary-policies
