|
Today, Representatives Paul Gosar (AZ-04), Mo Brooks (AL-05), Steve King (IA-04) and Ken Buck (CO-04) released the following statements after leading and submitting an appropriations language request to the House Appropriations Committee to prevent funds from going to “sanctuary cities” that prevent law enforcement officials from faithfully executing our immigration laws:
“The concept of ‘sanctuary city’ policies is in direct opposition to the Rule of Law and our Constitution. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 4, gives Congress clear jurisdiction on immigration matters,” stated Congressman Paul Gosar. “I’m pleased to see President Trump and Attorney General Sessions lead on this issue, but the House must also act by using the power of the purse. It’s long past time for Congress to crack down and defund sanctuary city policies that are proven to be deadly and put the security of our communities at risk.”
“Congress has an opportunity to work with the Trump Administration and enforce our nation’s immigration laws with respect to sanctuary cities,” said Congressman Mo Brooks. “Cities and localities who have refused to comply with federal immigration laws and knowingly shield dangerous felons from removal by ICE present a clear danger to our Republic. According to an ICE report from March of 2017, there are an estimated 300 cities and counties obstructing federal immigration agents from doing their jobs to deport dangerous criminals, thereby intentionally endangering Americans.”
“Sanctuary cities force the federal government to spend more money on immigration enforcement,” stated Congressman Ken Buck. “We must assert federal authority on federal issues and cut off funding for cities that violate the rule of law, which is what this appropriations request does.”
“The immigration system in the United States has an enforcement problem,” said Congressman Steve King. “The lawlessness of the Obama Administration has trickled down to at least 340 local so-called ‘sanctuary’ jurisdictions that openly defy federal law and release dangerous criminals. It is an absolute disgrace that a year and a half has passed since Kate Steinle was tragically murdered by an illegal alien who had several felony convictions, had been deported from the United States five times and yet was being harbored in a ‘sanctuary city.’ That is why I introduced ‘Kate’s Law’ back in January in an effort to amend federal law to impose a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any illegal reentry offense. It is time Congress acts to protect Americans from 100% preventable crimes, and we can start by enforcing our federal immigration laws.”
Background
The full text of the appropriations language request can be found HERE.
The list of 35 House members who cosigned this language request include Representatives Abraham, Arrington, Babin, Barletta, Brady, Brat, Mo Brooks, Buck, Cramer, DeSantis, Duncan, Farenthold, Franks, Gosar, Grothman, Hensarling, Hice, Hunter, Sam Johnson, Jones, Kelly, Steve King, Lamborn, Marino, McCaul, McClintock, Meadows, Olson, Ratcliffe, Rooney, Rouzer, Schweikert, Wagner, Webster and Yoho.
This appropriations language request is also supported by the Federation for American Immigration Reform and NumbersUSA.
Sanctuary city policies, at their core, are a flagrant violation of the Rule of Law. A nation of laws must enforce established law, not seek ways to skirt enforcement. Sanctuary cities defy federal immigration laws by harboring untold numbers of illegal immigrants and providing safe havens for criminals, many of whom are violent offenders.
The House has voted and passed language that prohibits federal funds from going to sanctuary cities five different times in recent years.
Recent events in Maryland have highlighted this danger to our communities. Henry Sanchez-Milian, an 18-year-old illegal alien, has been charged with the first-degree rape of a 14-year-old girl in the bathroom of a Montgomery County High School, within a county that deliberately thwarts federal policy by refusing to work with federal immigration authorities to deport illegal immigrants. Despite having been apprehended in Texas by a U.S. Border Patrol agent and held for 12 days by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials, Sanchez-Milian was arbitrarily released and put on a plane to be reunited with his father, who is also in the country illegally. Even though he had been ordered before an immigration court judge, after seven months, Sanchez-Milian’s hearing still had not taken place before this horrific event.
###
|
