WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, Senators Jim Banks (R-Ind.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) introduced the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. The bill would allow local law enforcement to cooperate with federal immigration authorities and would pull taxpayer-funded grants to sanctuary cities.
Senator Jim Banks: “For four years, Joe Biden knowingly allowed an invasion on our southern border, giving criminal aliens free range to wreak havoc across the U.S. Cities that protect these criminals are putting lawbreaking foreigners ahead of the American people. Senator Cruz’s bill addresses the insanity of ‘sanctuary cities’ head on by making sure they’re not rewarded for undermining American security.”
Senator Ted Cruz: “Sanctuary cities continue to defy the law by releasing dangerous criminals back into our communities instead of turning them over to federal immigration authorities. These policies jeopardize the safety of American citizens and undermine both public safety and the rule of law. We should hold these jurisdictions accountable, and the Senate should expeditiously take up and advance this legislation.”
The bill was also cosponsored by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.).
Key Provisions of the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act:
- Confirms state and local authority to comply with Department of Homeland Security (DHS) detainers.
- Grants officials immunity from lawsuits for cooperating with DHS.
- Defines “sanctuary jurisdiction” as any government entity restricting citizenship info sharing or DHS detainer compliance.
- Blocks sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving certain federal grants.
Full bill text can be found here.
Background:
Senator Banks is also a cosponsor of No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act that was introduced last week.