In a move to tackle the ongoing migrant crisis and challenge the actions of liberal mayors and governors, Republican lawmaker Rep. August Pfluger of Texas is introducing the “No Funding for Sanctuary Cities Act.” This legislation aims to defund sanctuary cities that obstruct federal immigration enforcement efforts, demanding taxpayer money while refusing to cooperate.
The proposed bill seeks to amend federal law, making jurisdictions that impede immigration enforcement ineligible for various federal law enforcement grants and other grants administered by the Department of Homeland Security or Department of Justice. Additionally, it would require the Secretary of Homeland Security to report to Congress the number of non-compliant states and localities regarding federal immigration enforcement. Any funds withdrawn from sanctuary jurisdictions would be redirected to compliant areas.
Sanctuary jurisdictions are known for limiting or completely blocking compliance with federal immigration enforcement, including the refusal to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainers. These detainers request the transfer of illegal immigrants in custody to ICE for deportation.
The effects of the three-year migrant crisis at the southern border are being felt nationwide, even in sanctuary cities such as New York City and Chicago. Mayors of these cities have been calling for more federal assistance, including $5 billion in aid to support the sheltering and care of migrants. Some have even proposed a national decompression strategy to relocate migrants to other areas.
Republican lawmakers, including Texas Governor Greg Abbott, have criticized these cities for their perceived hypocrisy. They argue that by welcoming migrants while simultaneously obstructing federal immigration laws, these cities are contradicting their own positions.
Rep. Pfluger emphasized the importance of the bill, stating, “It is the height of hypocrisy that liberal mayors and governors who intentionally flout federal law by declaring themselves ‘sanctuaries’ from immigration laws are now begging the federal government for money to manage President Biden’s border crisis.” He added that the bill is straightforward: any state or locality that hinders immigration law enforcement will not receive federal taxpayer funding.
The urgency of addressing the migrant crisis is underscored by the staggering number of encounters at the border. In December alone, there were over 302,000 migrant encounters, following a fiscal year 2023 that saw more than 2.4 million encounters.
The introduction of the “No Funding for Sanctuary Cities Act” reflects the ongoing debate surrounding immigration policy and enforcement in the United States. As the country grapples with this complex issue, lawmakers from both parties continue to propose different approaches to address the challenges posed by undocumented immigration.
Adam Shaw, a politics reporter for Fox News, covers immigration and border security. For further information or inquiries, he can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter. Stay updated with the latest news from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews, and more political content by subscribing to our newsletter.
