City's sanctuary policy forbids officials from helping federal authorities with immigration investigations, arrests unless required by law or warrant The family of the San Francisco woman who was fatally shot in July is suing the city's sheriff as well as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and The Bureau of Land Management.
Katie Steinle, 32, was walking along Pier 14 with her father when she was allegedly shot in the back by undocumented immigrant Francisco Sanchez on July 1.
The gun used in the shooting was stolen from the car of a Bureau of Land Management ranger.
The tragedy sparked a national debate regarding the sanctuary policy that allowed Sanchez to be out on the streets on the night of Steinle's murder.
Sanchez, 45, was in the custody of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, who released him in April without notifying US Immigration and Customs Enforcement after a 20-year-old marijuana possession charge was dropped.
Federal officials had requested to detain Sanchez, who has been deported five times and was wanted for a sixth removal from the country, for deportation proceedings.
In March Mirkarimi had ordered his department to stop communicating with federal immigration authorities who requested they be notified for 'undocumented, convicted felons'.
San Francisco's sanctuary policy forbids city officials from helping federal authorities with immigration investigations or arrests except in the circumstance of the law or a warrant.
The Steinle family will announce the lawsuit at a press conference at San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday, according to NBC Bay Area.
Mirkarimi's office said in a statement on Monday that he 'continues to extend his deepest sympathy to the Steinle family for their loss' and that he cannot comment on potential litigation.
The sheriff previously said the ICE should have issued an arrest warrant earlier for Sanchez.
Sanchez has pleaded not guilty to murder charges.
Steinle was walking along Pier 14 with her father when she was shot in the back by Francisco Sanchez (pictured) on July 1
Sanchez, 45, was in the custody of San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi (pictured), who released him in April without notifying US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
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