A group of Republican senators is asking for information from the Department of Homeland Security on the destinations of immigrants that are processed and allowed into the United States, saying sanctuary cities are to blame for the “migrant crisis.”
Six senators, led by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC), wrote a letter that was sent on Tuesday requesting a list of current addresses used by immigrants when given a notice to appear before an immigration judge. The notice provides a court date for their hearing based on their intended destination when they are apprehended and processed by Customs and Border Protection.
Tillis, along with Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Steve Daines (R-MT), Mike Braun (R-IN), and Ted Cruz (R-TX), wrote that “dangerous sanctuary city policies” are sheltering illegal immigrants from Border Patrol and threatening public safety.
BROKEN BORDER: ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION ARRESTS UNDER BIDEN EXCEED OBAMA’S EIGHT YEARS
“These policies prevent law enforcement officials from cooperating with federal immigration officials and allow dangerous, violent criminal aliens to walk free without fear of deportation,” the letter states.
The letter cited how a record number of immigrant encounters have occurred at the southern border since President Joe Biden took office. Border Patrol reported on Monday over 2 million encounters at the southern border this year.
The senators expressed concern over criminals hiding among immigrants, such as sex offenders, murderers, and gang members, as well as the increasing amounts of fentanyl and other drugs being confiscated at the border.
“We are deeply concerned that sanctuary jurisdictions are serving as a pull factor for illegal immigrants and for criminal aliens,” the letter states. “This failure to comply with federal law creates an incentive for illegal immigrants to travel to the United States and avoid accountability by moving to sanctuary jurisdictions.”
The senators are requesting that, by Oct. 21, the Department of Homeland Security provide them lists of addresses, as well as the steps the department takes to ensure that notices to appear are being accurately executed and immigrants are arriving at the correct addresses.
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This letter comes after several buses and planes were sent to various cities across the nation, including Washington, D.C., Chicago, New York City, and, most recently, Martha’s Vineyard. On Tuesday, 48 immigrants who were allegedly lured to Martha’s Vineyard on false pretenses and flown to Massachusetts filed a class-action lawsuit against Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who took credit for the flight.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
