It
simply doesn't make sense for DHS to transfer aliens who are removable
under the law to jurisdictions that are looking for opportunities to
let them go. Mr. Speaker, I cannot talk about holding sanctuary cities accountable
by strengthening our laws without mentioning the work of Chairman John
Culberson. In 2016, Chairman Culberson successfully convinced the Department of
Justice to update guidelines in order to disqualify sanctuary cities
from receiving DOJ grant money should they be found in violation of
title 8 U.S. Code, section 1373. Attorney General Sessions has reiterated that Federal law enforcement
grants are contingent on compliance with existing law, and that the DOJ
will deny fiscal year 2017 grant funds to jurisdictions that have
refused to share information regarding illegal aliens in their custody. Chairman Culberson's efforts made clear that State and local law
enforcement agencies are expected to work with Federal law enforcement
agencies on immigration matters. Through his diligent work, meaningful
steps have been taken to restore accountability. The No Sanctuary for Criminals Act builds on these efforts and
ensures that jurisdictions comply with the detainers while
strengthening our law to ensure that aliens who have been committing
crimes such as drunk driving are detained pending their removal. H.R. 3003 permits the Secretary of DHS to issue a detainer for any
individual arrested for violation of a criminal or motor vehicle law
upon probable cause that an individual is an inadmissible or deportable
alien. In this critically important step, the bill grants immunity to State
and local entities for compliance with any detainer. Jurisdictions that want to act in good faith and follow the law
should be able to cooperate without being held liable for their
compliance. The protections provided in this bill are a major step
forward to effective enforcement. Finally, this bill gives victims and their families a private right
of action against a State and local government whose noncompliance and
release of an alien results in a murder, rape, or serious injury of the
victim. This measure, were it law, would have allowed Kate Steinle's
family to sue after her tragic murder at the hands of a criminal and
unlawful immigrant. Sanctuary cities and jurisdictions ignore the law. They do it at the
expense of the American people. Our citizens surely deserve better.
Keywords matched
immigration deportable Sanctuary cities sanctuary cities illegal aliens immigrant