Speech #1140056335

I have heard a few of my colleagues talk about the need for Federal and local authorities to do a better job of working together. For instance. Senator DURBIN. who just left the floor. said: "Federal and local authorities must do a better job of communicating and coordinating so that undocumented immigrants with serious criminal records are detained and deported. period." Similarly. Senator FEINSTEIN said: "It is very clear to me that we have to improve cooperation between local. State. and Federal law enforcement." Let me say that I completely agree with them. and they are laying out a strong case for this legislation. not against it. because we need to do something about the cause of the noncooperation. the obstacle between that full cooperation. which absolutely needs to happen every day. Simply wishing for a better outcome isnt going to make it happen. The fact is. there are dozens of sanctuary citiesjurisdictions that have those policiesthat were cooperating in the past and that want to cooperate. but they have been faced with lawsuits from the ACLU and others and court decisions wherein local law enforcement officials could be held liable for violating an individuals constitutional rights simply for honoring a detainer request from ICE. That is ridiculous. That is an abusive threat. Our legislation on the floor today is going to remove that threat. The Stop Sanctuary Policies and Protect Americans Act allows for that cooperation between local and Federal authorities to resume again because section 4 of the bill will facilitate State and local compliance with the ICE detainer and remove that onerous and unreasonable threat. Cooperation has been stifled by lawsuits aimed at bullying local law enforcement. and this bill will grant local law enforcement the authority to clearly comply with ICE detainers without threat of liability. It will protect them from that liability for simply complying with ICE detainers. I will remind my colleagues that it will do nothing to infringe on an individuals civil or constitutional rights. They still have the same ability to pursue those against ICE or anyone else they choose.