Yesterday Rep. Lou Barletta (R-Pa.) introduced the Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act, H.R. 83, which would stop any federal funding to any jurisdictions who refuse to work with federal immigration officials. This is the third time Rep. Barletta has introduced this bill.
The Mobilizing Against Sanctuary Cities Act would stop federal funding for a minimum of one year to any state or local government which has a policy or law preventing local authorities from assisting immigration authorities from enforcing federal immigration law. The bill also requires the attorney general to create a list every year of any cities and jurisdictions that have sanctuary policies. The state or jurisdiction would only begin receiving federal funding again once the attorney general confirms that its laws and policies are in compliance with federal immigration statutes.
“One of the principal duties of the government is to protect its citizens, and the idea of sanctuary cities runs completely counter to that responsibility,” Barletta said. “Too many mayors and local governments think that they are above federal law and place their own ideology ahead of the safety of their residents. This bill will stop that practice by saying to these sanctuary cities, ‘If you refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement, you will lose your federal funding.’”
Rep. Barletta first introduced this bill as a freshman in 2011, this was the first piece of legislation he ever introduced. After the murder of Kate Steinle in 2015 received national attention he reintroduced the bill that year.
“Twice before I have introduced this bill, and twice before there was not the political will to pass it,” Barletta said. “With the Trump Administration taking office later this month, and with enforcing immigration law becoming a priority, I am hopeful we will meet with success this time around. It’s time we stopped seeing headlines about the victims of crimes committed by illegal immigrants.”
Read more on this story at The Sentinel.
