The trial for the accused murderer of Kate Steinle began Monday, but MSNBC chose not to inform its viewers of the development in a case that sparked a national immigration debate.
Steinle was murdered in 2015 while walking with her father, James Steinle, in San Francisco. Steinle’s father and another witness say she was shot by Jose Ines Garcia Zarate, a homeless illegal immigrant, but Zarate claims the shooting was accidental.
CNN and Fox News both updated viewers on the start of the trial several times, but MSNBC had not mentioned it by late Tuesday afternoon.
The case led to an intense debate on the status of sanctuary cities, as Zarate had been deported five times from the United States and had seven felony convictions. After his most recent arrest, ICE asked San Francisco to detain Zarate until they could pick him up, but San Francisco’s status as a sanctuary city allowed them to disregard the detainer and release him.
Steinle inspired the legislation known as “Kate’s Law” that would enact stricter penalties for deported felons who reenter the United States.