WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today introduced the Sanctuary City Elimination Act, which would ensure that state, local, and federal law enforcement officers can coordinate with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers without fear of reprisal and would prohibit sanctuary jurisdictions from accessing certain federal grants or other federal funding. The bill would also create a right of action for victims of criminal illegal aliens who are released from sanctuary jurisdictions and reoffend in other states so that those affected can seek justice in court. This comes after the Houston City Council last week passed an ordinance to limit local police’s coordination with ICE.

“For far too long, sanctuary cities across the nation have sidestepped federal immigration law and created safe havens for dangerous illegal aliens, putting the safety and security of Americans at risk and undermining the rule of law,” said Sen. Cornyn. “I’m proud to introduce the Sanctuary City Elimination Act, which would ensure local and state law enforcement coordinates with ICE officers, ban certain federal funds from going to sanctuary cities, and allow victims of criminal illegal aliens who are released from sanctuary jurisdictions and reoffend in other states to seek justice.” 

The Sanctuary City Elimination Act is cosponsored by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and Eric Schmitt (R-MO).

Background:

Despite the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) best efforts to detain illegal and violent criminal aliens, sanctuary cities across the nation have provided a safe haven for these individuals by refusing to cooperate with DHS officials. This has put state and local law enforcement in the untenable position of choosing between their duty to protect the public from dangerous criminals and enforce the law and their obligation to follow local ordinances that undermine public safety. This refusal to cooperate with DHS has created public safety risks that have led to violence and lawlessness in these cities, endangering Americans.

Senator Cornyn’s Sanctuary City Elimination Act would ensure that state and local law enforcement can cooperate with federal officials to protect American communities from violent criminals and suspected terrorists who are illegally present in the United States. The legislation, which builds on provisions that previously received widespread support in the Senate, will ensure that state, local, and federal law enforcement officers can cooperate on immigration enforcement by prohibiting sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving certain education, environmental, economic development, and community development grants. The bill would also create a right of action for victims of criminal illegal immigrants who are released from sanctuary jurisdictions and reoffend in other states.  

The Sanctuary City Elimination Act would:

• Bar sanctuary cities and states from receiving certain federal funds and grants, including arts, education, environmental, and community development block grants;
• Protect state and local law enforcement officers who comply with ICE detainers by treating them as federal officers, agents, or employees, protecting them from state prosecution;
• And allow state governments harmed by criminal aliens released by sanctuary jurisdictions to sue those jurisdictions, as well as the federal government to enforce the prohibition on funding to that sanctuary jurisdiction.