Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R.
3003. This bill before the Chamber today, the No Sanctuary for
Criminals Act, is another attack on the immigration communities and
communities of color in my home State of Texas and communities
throughout the country. This misguided legislation would strip critical Federal funding for
our local police agencies, such as COPS grants, that do not comply with
Federal immigration detainers. Doing so would only undermine the public
safety in our communities in Houston and Harris County. Our local law enforcement officers for Houston Police Department and
Harris County sheriffs are responsible for protecting the people of our
great city and county and upholding our local laws. They are not, nor should they be, de facto Federal immigration
agents. The U.S. Constitution is clear that immigration enforcement is
the responsibility of the Federal Government and not the States or
local governments. To require local police officers to enforce Federal
immigration law would not only violate our 200-year tradition of
federalism but will tear apart the local trust our police and sheriffs
have built with the immigrant community and communities of color over
the years. I ask my colleagues to let our local law enforcement protect our
families and our homes and not be immigration agents.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrant