Justice

The Murder Case That's Shaping the GOP Race

Since the July 1 killing of Kathryn Steinle, anti-immigrant sentiment has defined the Republican primary.
The right-wing reaction to the killing of Kathryn Steinle has changed the presidential campaigns of both of these men. REUTERS/Brian Snyder

For many U.S. conservatives, the most important incident of the summer was the July 1 killing of a young San Francisco woman, Kathryn Steinle, allegedly by an undocumented immigrant, Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez.

While it was certainly a hot topic before, since Steinle’s death, anti-immigrant sentiment has transformed the Republican presidential primary race. This in turn has once again encouraged moderates in both parties to pursue harsher stances and measures on immigration policy.