Kelly signs bill to ban local ‘sanctuaries’ for immigrants

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly has signed a bill pushed by state Republicans that would ban local municipalities from enacting policies that could help immigrants stay in the state illegally. In announcing Monday that she signed the bill, Kelly said immigration is a federal responsibility and Congress should provide a national solution for a broken immigration system. The bill was filed after three Kansas communities passed ordinances to provide local identification cards for immigrants and other residents and to prevent counties from helping the federal government enforce immigration laws unless public safety is threatened. Attorney General Derek Schmidt had urged lawmakers to intervene against the “sanctuary” ordinances.