Last night on The Kelly File, Megyn Kelly slammed the Obama Administration for refusing to “take seriously” those who have raised concerns about illegal immigration and sanctuary cities. The Fox News personality explained: “That’s the message 24 hours after a half dozen witnesses went before Congress to testify about this issue. Many were families who lost loved ones at the hands of illegal immigrants. All of them begging Washington for some help.”
After playing a clip from Jim Steinle, father of murdered San Francisco native Kate Steinle, Kelly declared: “Well, that last person was Mr. Steinle, the father of Kate Steinle, whose daughter was allegedly shot by an illegal immigrant with a long criminal record who should have been deported and was repeatedly, but instead, he had been put back on the street because of sanctuary cities policies in the city of San Francisco.”
The Kelly File host followed up with an interview of Brad Steinle, Kate Steinle’s brother. Steinle said he was stunned to see the White House so easily dismiss their proposal: “There’s a diversion and people aren’t taking it seriously.”
After reading a quote from Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) saying Kate’s Law should really be named the Donald Trump Act, Kelly eviscerated the former Speaker of the House:
I mean, the nerve – the nerve of her to become indignant at your attempt to second guess the sheriff who let out the man, despite a detainer request from ICE, who wound up killing Kate. What will get through to them, Brad? What will get through to them if not the testimony we heard yesterday, Kate's death which has received national attention? She’s – she’s indignant over the proposal to do something about it.
Steinle expressed disappointment that the family has yet to hear back from the White House. He ripped the Obama Administration: “We have not – we’re not really expecting a call. It's like what just happened in Chattanooga. You wait four days to lower the flags to half staff.” He added that it “seems as though you need to go out and protest and people need to be angry in order to get something done. I'm not going to be angry.”
Steinle pointed out that “there’s a blinder on many people in the White House and they don't see Kate and they don't see her death as something that is meaningful, but we are going to keep pushing.”
The relevant portion of the transcript is below.
Fox News
The Kelly File
July 22, 2015MEGYN KELLY: Breaking tonight in the middle of a heated national debate on illegal immigration and just a day after families traveled to Capitol Hill with heart wrenching tales of loved ones murdered by illegal immigrants, the White House remains defiant, suggesting today that any law cracking down on sanctuary cities that harbor illegal aliens would be dead on arrival when it hits the President's desk. Good evening and welcome to The Kelly File everyone. I’m Megyn Kelly. Congress today prepared the bill that would crack down on sanctuary cities, meaning district that ignore federal immigration laws in order to provide a safe haven to those here illegally.
[...]
JOSH EARNEST, White House press secretary: I think I have articulated why we don't take those legislative proposals particularly seriously.
KELLY: They don't take them seriously. That’s the message 24 hours after a half dozen witnesses went before Congress to testify about this issue. Many were families who lost loved ones at the hands of illegal immigrants. All of them begging Washington for some help.
[...]
JIM STEINLE: Suddenly a shot rang out, Kate fell and looked at me and said, “help me, dad.” Those were the last words I will ever hear from my daughter.
KELLY: Well, that last person was Mr. Steinle, the father of Kate Steinle, whose daughter was allegedly shot by an illegal immigrant with a long criminal record who should have been deported and was repeatedly, but instead, he had been put back on the street because of sanctuary cities policies in the city of San Francisco and they’re all across this country in hundreds of cities, just like San Fran. Joining me now Brad Steinle, Kate's brother. Brad, thank you very much for being here.
[...]
KELLY: So, the White House response today is “no, we are not doing it.” I mean, you have your answer. You go to Capitol Hill. You testify and already you heard from Josh Earnest these are not serious proposals.
BRAD STEINLE: Yeah, it's hard to hear. You know, we put forth our best effort. We came to D.C. and tried to make a change that we think is logical. It's a matter of keeping felons off the streets and instead of tackling the problem and being proactive, I feel like there’s a diversion and people aren't taking it seriously.
KELLY: I mean, not only did the White House say this isn't serious, you know, this isn't a serious proposal but today, Nancy Pelosi, San Francisco Representative and now House Minority Leader, comes out and says this legislation ought to be called the Donald Trump Act and says it is wildly partisan, it’s a misguided bill that second guesses the decision of police chiefs around the country about how to best ensure public safety.
[...]
KELLY: I mean, the nerve – the nerve of her to become indignant at your attempt to second guess the sheriff who let out the man, despite a detainer request from ICE, who wound up killing Kate. What will get through to them, Brad? What will get through to them if not the testimony we heard yesterday, Kate's death which has received national attention? She’s – she’s indignant over the proposal to do something about it.
[...]
KELLY: Do you feel – well, let me ask you this because it has been over a week since you and I spoke the last time. Have you heard from the White House yet?
STEINLE: We have not. We have not – we’re not really expecting a call. It's like what just happened in Chattanooga. You wait four days to lower the flags to half staff. We’ve sat and waited for two weeks for a call. Seems as though you need to go out and protest and people need to be angry in order to get something done. I'm not going to be angry. My parents aren't going to get angry. We are going to try to take a proactive and positive way to get change done.
KELLY: I mean, after you specifically publically said you would like to hear from them, you would like to hear from the White House, from the administration and yet still in the wake of that, they don't call. We played a sound bite last week of Sandra Fluke, a birth control advocate – activist. She received a call from President Obama personally because Rush Limbaugh had called her a nasty name and they cannot make the time to call your family after policies they support and won't change led to the death of your sister. It's hard to believe.
STEINLE It is. It’s hard to believe with government and people's agendas, they have blinders on and there’s a blinder on many people in the White House and they don't see Kate and they don't see her death as something that is meaningful, but we are going to keep pushing. We are going to keep on trying to get like-minded people that understand what we are trying to accomplish and we’re trying to keep people from having to deal with what we are dealing with today.
