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 Francisco Sanchez, 45, was arrested for the shooting of Kathryn
Steinle, 32, last Wednesday evening. The case drew national
attention after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump
during the weekend used the killing to decry U.S.-Mexico border
security.
The San Francisco District Attorney's Office said in a statement
that Sanchez would be arraigned on Tuesday.
Immigration officials said Sanchez was released from federal prison
in March after a felony re-entry conviction. He was transferred to
the custody of the San Francisco County Sheriff's Office on a drug
arrest warrant and federal officials asked to be notified prior to
his release.
The Sheriff's Office said the charges were dismissed and since there
was no active warrant or judicial order for Sanchez's removal, the
city's policy deemed Sanchez "ineligible for extended detention" and
he was freed.
 Sanchez has a long criminal history including seven felonies and has
been deported to Mexico five times, according to U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement.
Earlier on Monday, San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee expressed concern
about Sanchez's release into the community and directed authorities
to look at the steps they took with Sanchez leading up to the
shooting.
"All agencies involved, federal and local, need to conduct quick,
thorough and objective reviews of their own departmental policies
and the decisions they made in this case," Lee said in a statement.
He defended his city's so-called sanctuary policy as one that
protects immigrant communities and that should not shield criminals.
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Dozens of such sanctuary cities across the United States limit the
assistance they provide to federal immigration authorities aiming to
apprehend or deport individuals.
An anonymous law enforcement source told the San Francisco Chronicle
newspaper that Sanchez was shooting at sea lions and struck Steinle
by accident.
In a jail house interview with broadcaster KGO-TV, Sanchez admitted
to the shooting, saying he had just taken several sleeping pills and
the gun went off when he picked it up.
Trump, who drew heavy criticism for describing immigrants from
Mexico to the United States as drug-runners and rapists during the
launch of his presidential bid last month, on Saturday said the
shooting was a "totally preventable act of violence committed by an
illegal immigrant."
(Editing by Steve Orlofsky and Bill Trott)
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