LaHood proposes legislation to terminate sanctuary city policies

U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood (R-IL) is the lead original cosponsor of the newly proposed, Republican-led Stop Dangerous Sanctuary Cities Act, which would ensure that state and local law enforcement cooperate with federal officials to protect local communities from violent criminals and suspected terrorists who are illegally in the United States.

Specifically, H.R. 3000 would withhold certain non-law enforcement federal grant funds from sanctuary cities, which are jurisdictions that forbid their local law enforcement officers from cooperating with federal immigration officials.

“Instead of punishing law enforcement officials in these communities, bureaucrats that refuse to comply with federal immigration laws should be held accountable for failing to cooperate,” said Rep. LaHood.

H.R. 3000 also would address court decisions that could leave local police and municipalities liable when they assist the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the DHS had erred, resulting in the violation of an individual’s civil or constitutional rights.

“States that enforce lenient illegal immigration policies and restrict law enforcement from complying with Department of Homeland Security detainers need to have real consequences for disregarding federal law,” Rep. LaHood said, adding that H.R. 3000 would “ensure our law enforcement officials are legally protected when complying with DHS and hold politicians implementing these sanctuary policies accountable.”

Rep. LaHood on May 23 introduced H.R. 3000 with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA) and 21 other original Republican cosponsors, including U.S. Reps. John Ratcliffe (R-TX), Billy Long (R-MO), Paul Cook (R-CA) and John Moolenaar (R-MI).

Companion legislation, S. 1644, also was introduced on May 23 by U.S. Sens. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and 19 original Republican cosponsors, including U.S. Sens. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Roy Blunt (R-MO), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Steve Daines (R-MT), John Hoeven (R-ND), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).