WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho) introduced today the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Actto block federal funding to sanctuary cities intended to benefit illegal immigrants.
Risch’s bill aligns with President Trump’s Executive Order “Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Open Borders”which blocks federal agencies and programs from providing taxpayer-funded services to illegal immigrants.
“Sanctuary cities abuse taxpayer dollars and fuel the illegal immigration crisis,” said Risch. “My No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act stops these jurisdictions from using federal funding to directly give handouts to illegal immigrants.”
Risch is joined by U.S. Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Jim Banks (R-Ind.), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in introducing the No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act. Representative Nick LaLota (R-N.Y.) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives.
“Not a single taxpayer dollar should be used to provide unwarranted hand-outs to non-citizen migrants or to cities giving them any unearned financial advantages,” said Crapo. “Federal resources should be used to secure the borders, not invite and encourage illegal immigration.
“Montanans are paying the price of Biden’s crisis at the southern border, but thankfully with President Trump in office, we’re working together to restore order,” said Daines. “I’m glad to join my colleagues in introducing a bill to prevent Montana taxpayer dollars from ever being used to fund sanctuary cities, which will deter illegal immigration and make our communities safer.”
“Nobody in their right mind would say it’s a good idea to force hardworking American taxpayers to subsidize sanctuary cities and incentivize the illegal invasion of our country,” said Sheehy. “It’s time we put an end to the backward policies that encourage illegal immigration, and I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in support of this America First bill to bring back common sense, restore fiscal sanity, and put the interests of our people first.”
“Sanctuary states and cities that refuse to enforce the law make Americans less safe,” said Ricketts. “This bill would bring needed accountability to those who facilitate illegal immigration and bring justice for the victims of sanctuary policies.”
“Lawless so-called sanctuary cities should no longer get a free pass to sabotage our national security and the safety of communities across America,” said Lee. “Under this legislation, if you ignore federal law and refuse to hand over dangerous criminals to ICE and other authorities, you don’t get federal funding. American taxpayers should no longer be compelled to support sanctuary cities and states which endanger their families.”
“Continuing to send federal tax dollars to cities that use those funds to aid and abet illegal immigration is asinine. If state and local leaders refuse to comply with federal law in the effort to defend our communities from criminal aliens, they must be held accountable,” said Banks. “This bill holds these incompetent leaders to account when they undermine the safety of the Americans they govern.”
“Folks in Mississippi and around the country are baffled by cities and states that aid and abet illegal immigration, and they’re right to question why their taxpayer dollars are being used to prop up these so-called sanctuary cities. Senator Risch’s bill would begin the process of ending the gravy train for those jurisdictions that flaunt our immigration and border laws,” Hyde-Smith said.
The No Bailout for Sanctuary Cities Act would:
- Define “sanctuary jurisdiction” as any local or state government entity that withholds information regarding an individual’s citizenship status from federal, state, or other local authorities; and
- Prevent sanctuary jurisdictions from receiving federal funds for the specific benefit of illegal immigrants.
