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TOPEKA, Kan. (KSNW) The Kansas Senate passed a measure aimed at addressing immigration laws and sanctuary cities in the state.

The Senate voted 29-10 to pass House Bill 2717 on Wednesday after it recently passed the House last week.

The measure now heads to the governors desk.

The bill was firstintroduced on Feb. 22at the request of Attorney General Derek Schmidt in reaction toWyandotte County passing the Safe and Welcoming ordinanceon Feb. 10. Wyandotte Countys ordinance would make it illegal for the Unified Government to collect immigration data unless required by state or federal law and would issue municipal ID cards to those who were recently in prison, homeless or undocumented.

It was mostly Democrats who voted against the bill in the Senate. Some also spoke out against the plan when brought to the House floor.

Like other lawmakers, Rep. Pam Curtis, D-Kansas City, pointed to the federal government for lack of action on immigration reform.

That leaves municipalities, like KCK, with large immigrant communities to deal with this as best they can, Curtis said.

Curtis also expressed concerns for people with mixed status. In hearings, people testifying against the bill explained that many worry about interactions with law enforcement or going about their daily routine. Curtis said many people take the ability to have an ID for granted, arguing that its hard for people to access services without identification.

From borrowing books to enrolling their child in school to renting an apartment or a home, Curtis said.

HB 2717 would make any municipal identification card used in lieu of state ID to be invalid, including for voter ID purposes. Both the ordinance and the legislation to undo it have sparked discussion across the state regarding immigration laws and haveraised concerns for many immigrants living in Kansas. Other lawmakers argued that the government shouldnt interfere with the states long-held standard of local control.

Were here today considering a bill demanding that our cities and counties enforce the laws of the tyrannical and out-of-control federal government, said Rep. Dennis Highberger, D-Lawrence.

Attorney General Derek Schmidt spoke about the bill at theKansas GOP conventionthis month, voicing his concerns over the ordinance.

That instructs their police officers not to cooperate and communicate with federal enforcement authorities and says theyre going to start issuing local governmental IDs, Schmidt said. Thats a problem, and it ought to be unlawful.

To read HB 2717 in full, click here.

Read more here:
Kansas Sanctuary City ban passes Senate, heads to governor - KSN-TV