Graves: What I will do to stop illegal immigration

(From Sixth District Congressman Sam Graves)

There are a few things that I want to prioritize as Congress begins its work alongside President-Elect Donald Trump this year.

One is the full repeal and replacement of Obamacare. Another is the development of infrastructure and tax reform bills that can jump start the economy, bring certainty to markets, and set our country on the path toward a balanced budget. Third, and perhaps most important, is reversing all the damage done to our military and national security interests under President Obama.

I believe wholeheartedly that illegal immigration is a national security issue. Open borders give anyone intent on harming American citizens the ability to get into this country. And the failure to deport immigrants who we know are living here illegally only encourages others to come here in the future.

Sanctuary cities are a huge part of that problem. And as one of my first moves of the 115th session of Congress, I’m working to stop them.

Last December, Chicago Mayor - and former Obama adviser - Rahm Emanuel established a one million dollar “Legal Protection Fund” for undocumented immigrants living in Chicago. The money will be given to lawyers who represent the 3,000 immigrants living there illegally.

A few days later, Los Angeles did the same thing, creating a $10 million fund to protect illegal immigrants facing deportation in LA.

It makes me we wonder what these people are thinking. And it makes me angry. It’s one thing for big cities on the coast to pass liberal laws that inflate their budgets and expand local governments. But when their radical agenda - like giving blanket protections to illegal immigrants - affects everyone in this country, it becomes a problem.

Tomorrow, I am helping introduce a bill in the House of Representatives that will hold cities responsible for their refusal to comply with federal immigration laws. According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), about 300 localities in the United States are considered sanctuary cities. My bill will stop all of them from shielding illegal immigrants against deportation.

Point No. 4 in President-Elect Trump’s 10-Point Plan to Put America First calls for an end to sanctuary cities. And with a Republican Senate and White House both on our side, I look forward to helping push this bill into law this year.

There is nothing ambiguous about illegal immigration. It’s time that those harboring illegal immigrants recognize that as well.