Smith Supports Bill to Hold Sanctuary Cities Accountable

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today voted in favor of H.R. 3009, Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act. The bill strengthens enforcement of current federal law which Rep. Smith authored, known as The Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act, which made it illegal for jurisdictions to withhold information on immigration status that would lead to deportation. H.R. 3009 would restrict certain criminal justice funds from areas that withhold this information. Smith also participated in a House Judiciary hearing today which reviewed the dangers of sanctuary cities.

Click here for video of Rep. Smith’s statement

Congressman Smith advocated for the bill’s passage on the House floor:

The bill is appropriately named, since sanctuary cities violate current laws that require these jurisdictions to share information with federal authorities about illegal immigrants who have been arrested. H.R. 3009 helps enforce an immigration bill I introduced several years ago that became law. 

This legislation withholds certain federal funds from sanctuary jurisdictions that hide the immigration status of illegal immigrants charged with crimes. These reforms serve as a first step in keeping dangerous criminal immigrants off of our streets and out of our neighborhoods.
         
Sanctuary cities have increased under this administration, which has done nothing to discourage them. 

During only an eight month period last year, sanctuary cities released almost nine thousand illegal immigrants charged with or convicted of serious crimes.  One quarter have already been arrest again for committing more crimes, like murder and sexual assault, when does it end?

I don’t understand how anyone could oppose enforcing immigration laws. 

These victims are not Republicans or Democrats. They are innocent Americans.

Many of the crimes committed by illegal immigrants could have been prevented if the Obama Administration had enforced immigration laws.  Instead, it has chosen to ignore them and innocent Americans continue to pay a steep price.   

I thank the gentleman from California, Mr. Hunter, for authoring this legislation.  And I urge its approval. 

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Congressman Smith represents the 21st District of Texas. He serves as chairman of the House Science, Space, & Technology Committee, and is a member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and the House Judiciary Committee, on which he also served as chairman. He is also founder and chairman of the House Border Security Caucus and has previously been named the most effective lawmaker in Congress.