Why It Matters
The Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act is one of a few pieces of sanctuary legislation that have made it out of committee during President Donald Trump's second term, and at least two other sanctuary bills have been introduced, including one addressing sanctuary cities and small business matters. Sanctuary policies are associated with reduced deportations while not causing increases in crime rates.
The House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration Integrity, Security, and Enforcement will examine the impact of sanctuary laws on Tuesday, September 15. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) chairs the committee, with Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) as ranking member. No witnesses have been scheduled so far for the hearing.
Context
The legislative push reflects a broader Trump administration focus on sanctuary jurisdictions. The Justice Department has published a list identifying states, cities, and counties as having policies that impede federal immigration enforcement.
According to an estimate from the Center for Immigration Studies, there are upward of 200 jurisdictions in the United States that have laws, ordinances, regulations, resolutions, policies, or other practices that obstruct immigration enforcement and shield criminals from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
The late Senator Lindsey Graham introduced legislation to end sanctuary city policies by imposing criminal penalties on state and local officials who willfully interfere with federal immigration law enforcement.
Proposed bills would prohibit sanctuary jurisdictions from restricting communications with ICE about criminal aliens, empower local authorities in sanctuary jurisdictions to work with federal immigration officials, and forbid local jurisdictions from shielding criminals from ICE. The Justice for Victims of Sanctuary Cities Act would withhold federal funds from sanctuary cities if they continue to refuse to enforce federal immigration law and would allow a victim or victim's family to bring a lawsuit against a state or local government.
According to the Cato Institute, roughly 3 percent of individuals in sanctuary city dockets have been arrested or convicted, compared to approximately 30 percent of Americans who have been arrested and about 8 percent who have felony convictions. Sanctuary city dockets include legal immigrants in the process of having their status removed for crimes, some illegal immigrants who have died or left, and those convicted of nothing but entering illegally.
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