WASHINGTON — Urged on by anguished testimony from the father of a murder victim, Congress plunged into a heated debate over immigration on Tuesday as GOP lawmakers vowed to shut down funding for so-called sanctuary cities like San Francisco that shield immigrants from deportation by federal authorities.

Immigrant advocates denounced the approach, accusing Republicans of following presidential candidate Donald Trump in demonizing Latinos.

But after 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle was shot this month, allegedly by an immigrant with a criminal record and without legal status, even some Democrats were calling for action to address the ineffective tangle of federal and local laws and policies that left the man on the street.

“We feel strongly that some legislation should be discussed, enacted or changed to take these undocumented immigrant felons off our streets for good,” said Kathryn Steinle’s father, Jim Steinle, who was with his daughter when she was killed while strolling in daylight along a popular San Francisco pier. “We feel if Kate’s law saves one daughter, one son, a mother, a father, Kate’s death won’t be in vain.”

Testifying before a somber Senate Judiciary Committee, Jim Steinle described his daughter as friendly, happy, adventurous and full of laughter and love. Shot at random before his eyes as they walked arm in arm, she had time only to utter the words “Help me, Dad.”