Billy Long co-sponsors Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act

(From Seventh District Congressman Billy Long)

Kate Steinle, a 32 year-old medical device sales representative, was walking down a San Francisco pier when her life was tragically taken from her. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who had previously been deported five times, shot Ms. Steinle in the back, killing her on the pier.

San Francisco is one of roughly 300 jurisdictions throughout the United States that is considered a sanctuary city. Sanctuary cities limit local authority from cooperating with federal agencies to enforce national immigration laws and arrest illegal immigrants. Sanctuary cities willfully ignore the laws that are intended to keep all legal and law-abiding American citizens safe.

To put an end to this lax policy, I am cosponsoring the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act. This bill will prohibit any sanctuary city from receiving certain funds under the Economic Development Assistance Programs and the Community Development Block Grant Program. This bill, if passed, would send a message loud and clear to those cities “protecting” illegal immigrants that they can’t decide which laws they don’t follow without any consequences. We live in a country based on the rule of law, and our laws must be followed.

Even though this legislation seems like a common sense solution, not all of my colleagues agree. Some argue that by passing this bill, it would hurt the relationship between community members and law enforcement. I disagree. Sanctuary cities provide a false sense of security for individuals living in this country illegally. It also sends the wrong message to those who came here legally that is not necessary. That’s not okay.

I believe in a system of government in which those who don’t follow the law or enforce the law should be held accountable. Allowing sanctuary cities to be a safe haven for illegal immigrants does a disservice to those cities and individuals that respect our laws. Sanctuary cities should be held accountable for their actions and the Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act is the first step to accomplishing that.

I will continue to work with my colleagues to make sure that this bill and others that enforce our immigration policies are passed into law. President Trump ran on the promise of enforcing our immigration laws and I will continue to support his efforts in any way I can.