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Republicans blast DHS head over San Francisco pier killing

FILE - In this Thursday, July 2, 2015 file photo, Liz Sullivan, left, and Jim Steinle, right, parents of Kathryn Steinle, talk to members of the media outside their home in Pleasanton, Calif. Steinle's parents will be interviewed by Bill O'Reilly Monday, July 13, 2015, for a segment on his Fox News show. Steinle was walking along a San Francisco pier July 1 when she was killed by a gun allegedly fired by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who is in the country illegally. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File) FILE - In this Thursday, July 2, 2015 file photo, Liz Sullivan, left, and Jim Steinle, right, parents of Kathryn Steinle, talk to members of the media outside their home in Pleasanton, Calif. Steinle's parents will be interviewed by Bill O'Reilly Monday, July 13, 2015, for a segment on his Fox News show. Steinle was walking along a San Francisco pier July 1 when she was killed by a gun allegedly fired by Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, who is in the country illegally. (Lea Suzuki/San Francisco Chronicle via AP, File)

By Associated Press July 14, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – House Republicans are criticizing Homeland Security Secretary Jeh (JAY) Johnson over the shooting death of a San Francisco woman at the hands of an immigrant with a long criminal record who was in the country illegally.

Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and other Republicans say Obama administration policies were to blame for the July 1 incident in which a woman was shot and killed as she strolled along a San Francisco pier with her father.

The alleged killer had been in custody prior to the shooting, but was released by local authorities despite a federal request to continue to hold him.

Republicans said it should be mandatory for local communities to abide by federal requests to keep people in detention.

Johnson said that would be counterproductive.