La. Gov. Bobby Jindal Says Mayors of Sanctuary Cities Should Be 'Criminally Culpable'

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is making national headlines for suggesting that mayors of so-called "Sanctuary Cities" in the U.S. be held criminally accountable when undocumented immigrants commit crimes in their cities.

Jindal recently announced his new "Partners in Crime" campaign that would seek to hold mayors of Sanctuary Cities in the U.S. "criminally culpable" when undocumented immigrants commit crimes in their cities.

The policy of Sanctuary Cities, meaning cities that do not follow federal regulations regarding the deportation of undocumented criminal offenders, have received heightened criticism in recent months following the death of 32-year-old Kate Steinle in San Francisco, who was shot by an undocumented immigrant who had been deported five times before the shooting.

Jindal said in an interview with the Boston Herald Radio this week that "absolutely, I would hold [local mayors] as an accomplice."

"Make them criminally culpable. I'd also make them civilly liable so that families, victims' families could sue. Especially if the prosecutor isn't taking action or the mayor's not changing their ways, I'd allow the families to go to court as well to recover damages."

"My plan will hit these lawless city leaders where it hurts by holding them directly accountable for crimes. If on their watch, an illegal immigrant breaks the law, we will count sanctuary city leaders as accessories and force them to pay for these crimes. Sanctuary City leaders are flouting the laws of the United States and that is unacceptable," Jindal added.

Jindal is one of several GOP politicians planning to run for the presidency in 2016.