Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R.
3003. In jurisdictions within my district, Cook County, cities like
Chicago, Evanston, and Skokie, which are immigrant rich, we have
adopted sanctuary cities, sometimes called welcoming cities, ordinances
in order to reassure immigrants that they can, with safety, talk to law
enforcement within our jurisdictions. Skokie Mayor George Van Dusen said: ``It has taken the Village of
Skokie years--decades really--to form the bridges that we have of trust
with our immigrant community.''
These policies work. A January study found that sanctuary cities tend
to be safer and have stronger economies than not. This bill would push communities to abandon sanctuary city policies,
breaking down that hard-earned trust between immigrants and law
enforcement. Turning law enforcement into immigration enforcement makes
cities less safe.
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