BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A Senate committee has postponed a vote on a bid to penalize jurisdictions that don't align with federal immigration law, after some senators questioned whether the proposal gives the attorney general too much power.
Attorney General Jeff Landry testified in favor of the House-approved bill that would allow his office to determine whether jurisdictions were operating as so-called sanctuary cities — municipalities that don't enforce federal immigration law without a court order.
Under the measure, the state could bar violating cities from borrowing money for large construction projects.
The hour-long debate grew heated, with senators questioning whether the measure violates due process and invests too much authority with Landry. The Senate Judiciary A Committee stalled a vote Tuesday, delaying a decision until its next meeting.