Politics

Iowa Democratic Senate Hopeful: I’m Not Clear On What A Sanctuary City Is [VIDEO]

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Juliegrace Brufke Capitol Hill Reporter
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Iowa Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate Patty Judge, who is running against GOP incumbent Sen. Chuck Grassley, said she was unsure of what a “sanctuary city” is during an interview.

The former Iowa lieutenant governor was unable to answer whether she would support denying federal funding to states which choose to permit sanctuary cities, according to an interview with the editorial board of the Sioux City Journal.

“Well, you know I am really not clear in my mind what a sanctuary city is ,” she said.

When the board clarified that sanctuary cities are geographical areas with policies or laws in place limiting how much they have to comply with federal immigration law, Judge appeared to be mystified by the concept.

“I guess part of that that I really don’t understand is how they have the authority to not cooperate?,” she said. “Yeah, I don’t understand that.”

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The board acknowledged, “it is probably unfair to question her on Sarah’s Law — legislation introduced by Grassley and Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst, named after Sarah Root, an Iowa college student killed by a drunk driver residing in the country illegally, requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to take illegal immigrants charged with a crime resulting in death or serious bodily injury into custody — given her lack of expertise on the topic.”

Judge responded that “it’s certainly something I would look at.”

Judge’s ignorance on the issue earned her the reprimand of Grassley and gained the attention of national media outlets throughout the year, especially since it’s an issue directly affecting the state she represents.

“Patty Judge’s stunning lack of basic knowledge about critically important issues furthers proves how unqualified she is to represent Iowa in the United States Senate,” Grassley campaign manager Bob Haus said in a statement. “Sanctuary city policies undermine the rule of law and provide safe haven to dangerous criminals, and Judge’s total lack of understanding about this ongoing problem is deeply troubling for someone running for federal office. At a bare minimum, Iowa deserves elected officials that are at least aware of the problems we face as a state and as a nation, not someone who is so unprepared to serve that she has to be schooled about the job.”

Grassley is currently leading Judge by 13. 2 points in the polls according to the Real Clear Politics average.

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