Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., and 42 other lawmakers are pushing Congress to a ban Department of Homeland Security funding for “sanctuary cities,” jurisdictions that flout federal law by sheltering illegal immigrants.
Gosar and his allies are urging the House Appropriations Committee to prohibit funding for these locations in the next fiscal year, and have signed a letter demanding that change to Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, who chairs the House Appropriations subcommittee on homeland security.
On Thursday, Jones announced he is the latest lawmaker to sign the letter.
“One of the primary purposes of government is to protect American citizens. Sanctuary cities provide protection to violent illegal aliens at the expense of law-abiding American citizens. It’s outrageous, and it’s got to stop,” Jones said in a release.
“I have consistently voted to stop illegal immigration into this country and to stem the flow of benefits to those who have broken our immigration laws,” he said. “I will continue to do everything I can to ensure American citizens are kept safe from violent illegal aliens.”
Jones said the Center for Immigration Studies has found 276 sanctuary cities and jurisdictions across the country in which “federal immigration laws are disregarded by local authorities.”
The lawmakers’ efforts parallel several national legislative efforts in reaction to the murder of Kate Steinle in sanctuary San Francisco last year, including “Kate’s Law” pushed by Sen. Ted Cruz, and backed by his primary rival Donald Trump.
Most of the signatories also voted for “Kate’s Law” in the House, and many have endorsed Cruz for president. Another signatory to the letter, Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., has endorsed Trump, and is heading up Trump’s congressional outreach committee.
As recently as Wednesday, law enforcement apprehended three illegal immigrants in New York state.
Read the letter here:
